One major complaint of all the MLAs, MPs and even the ministers in Andhra Pradesh is that meeting Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is the most difficult and in fact, impossible task. There are ministers who haven’t met YS Jagan personally in two years. Most ministers catch a ‘glimpse’ of the CM in cabinet meets or even review meetings. But talking to him personally is impossible.

Getting an appointment with YS Jagan is next to impossible. Several ministers reportedly made discreet enquiries as to whether any of them managed to secure an interview with YS Jagan. Most of these ministers are diehard fans of YS Jagan and defend him to the hilt. Even leaders like Kodali Nani have not got appointments with Jagan.

Sources say the only minister who can walk into YS Jagan’s chambers without an appointment during any time of the day is Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy. Sources say that Jagan consults only with Peddireddy on any important issue. Be it local body elections or the bypolls, it is Peddireddy who is consulted. He can walk straight into Jagan’s chamber and hold discussions on any topic.

“One can get a darshan of Lord Venkateswara if one waits for some two hours. But even after two years of waiting, I could not get the darshan of Lord YS Jagan,” an exasperated minister is said to have commented. Most ministers envy the special privilege that Peddireddy enjoys. Even Jagan’s close relatives like Balireddy Srinivasa Reddy or even Ravindranath Reddy do not enjoy this privilege.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy who talked about imposing ‘prohibition’ in a phased manner on liquor in the state after coming to power is now taking decisions to encourage liquor consumption.

Jagan on Saturday (today) decided to reduce liquor prices in AP besides offering all popular liquor brands in the state.

Jagan government increased liquor rates sharply and stopped sales of all popular liquor brands arguing that this will discourage liquor consumption.

Now, the YSRCP government took a U-turn and decided to cut liquor prices and offer all popular liquor brands in AP liquor stores from next week as a New Year Gift.

The government reduced VAT and additional excise duty on liquor to bring down prices.

With the latest decision, the liquor prices are expected to come down by 10 per cent to 20 per cent.

The government says it was forced to take these decision to check illegal flow of liquor from other states to AP.

The government stated that people are procuring liquor from other states illegally as the cost is lower in other states when compared with AP and also to consume popular liquor brands available in other states instead of consuming unknown liquor brands that were on offer in AP.

There is a buzz in ruling YSRCP circles in Andhra Pradesh that party president and AP Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has constituted ‘shadow teams’ in all Assembly constituencies in the state to keep an eye on the movements of his ministers, party MLAs, MLCs etc.

Jagan is receiving several complaints against his ministers, party MLAs, MLCs of resorting to all kinds of irregularities by misusing their power and position and minting money.

Normally, CMs of all states track the movement of their ministers, MLAs etc and also that of leaders of opposition parties through state government’s intelligence department, Jagan seems to be not convinced with intelligence reports.

He reportedly deployed his own shadow teams comprising of his ardent supporters and followers in the party and government to track the movements of his ministers, MLAs, MLCs etc and report to him directly every fortnight.

Jagan is reportedly suspecting a few ministers, party MLAs, MLCs from certain castes of maintaining secret ties with TDP leaders from the same castes and even amassing properties, money on the names of benamis of TDP leaders to ensure that no one can smell it and catch them.

Jagan’s shadow teams have been reportedly given the task to detect such leaders who are working as ‘coverts’ for TDP within YSRCP.

There is a strong buzz in the AP government employee circles that Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy might go in for snap polls early 2023, almost a year ahead of his term. They also see the first signals of early polls in the PRC report submitted by the chief secretary to the chief minister.

The CS committee has recommended a fitment of 14.29 per cent to the government. But, the catch is that this fitment would be implemented from October next year. This means that the government employees would get their enhanced salaries only in November 2022. Sources say that the reason for the delay in implementing the fitment is the dire financial position of the state. However, there are no hopes of reviving the state’s economy even in November 2022.

The employees suspect that in October 2022, the government might dissolve the assembly and announce snap polls ahead of October 2022. The election code, which will come into effect immediately, would not allow the implementation of the fitment. The whole process of implementation would have to wait till the elections are completed. This could happen only in early 2023.

The employees claim that the government has spent indiscriminately on welfare schemes and doles. The borrowings are also happening right left and centre due to which the state’s financial position is in dire straits. The government is delaying the implementation of the fitment only with a view on the early polls, suspect the leaders of the employees’ unions.

Strange are the ways of YSRCP chief and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

He is accused of encouraging only Reddy leaders in his government and party.

But in the case of one Reddy MLA in his party, Jagan is acting in a reverse way.

He is sidelining Proddutur MLA Rachamallu Prasad Reddy who was elected twice as MLA from YSRCP in 2014 and 2019 in favour of BC leader Ramesh Yadav.

Jagan sidelining a Reddy leader to benefit a BC leader in his home turf Kadapa district has become a hot topic in Kadapa politics.

Jagan not only made Yadav as MLC but also gave other nominated posts to BC leaders in Proddutur who oppose MLA Prasad Reddy.

Apparently Jagan wants to lure BCs in Proddutur who are majority voters in the constituency after he realised that BCs are moving away from YSRCP with anger on Jagan of encouraging only Reddy leaders.

Although the YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh has recently withdrawn two bills pertaining to setting up three capitals for AP, the Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy continues to make decisions that adversely affect the future prospects of Amaravathi.

The Centre had earlier approved Anantapur-Amaravati express highway over an extent of 384 kilometres with an aim to provide speedy road connectivity to Amaravathi capital region from Rayalaseema.

But the Jagan government did not cooperate with the Centre and proposed Kodikonda-Medarametla express highway over an extent of 332 kilometers in the place of Anantapur-Amaravathi express highway and got it approved from the Centre.

The Centre has proposed four alignments to choose for Kodikonda-Medarametla express highway.

But CM Jagan chose the alignment which benefits his home constituency Pulivendula.

This highway will start at Kodikonda and pass through Pulivendula and covers Animela mandal, Maidukuru, Porumamilla, Mallepally, Vangapadu, Kanigiri, Medaramatla and connects with NH-16.

Though the Centre proposed AP to select alignment connecting Mallepally to Giddaluru-Nuzendla-Chilakaluripeta in between as it will also connect some part of Anantapur-Amaravathi highway, the Jagan government rejected it.

Official circles say Jagan is against taking up any project that connects Amaravati and for this reason he rejected it.

The four-lane express highway between Kodikonda, Medarametla is being taken up at a cost of over Rs 16,000 crore with Centre’s funds. The state government will bear land acquisition costs.

The YSRCP government in Andhra Pradesh headed by Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy is doing everything to block the public meeting of Amaravathi JAC in Tirupati on December 16 demanding Jagan government to withdraw 3-capitals proposal and continue Amaravathi as the only capital of AP.

Ever since the Amaravathi JAC padayatra began 45-day Maha Padayatra from Amaravathi to Tirupathi in the name of “Nyayasthanam (AP High Court) to Devasthanam (Tirumala temple)”, the Jagan government is creating various hurdles by misusing power and misusing police force.

Despite this, the pada yatra is going on successfully since November 2 with overwhelming support from AP people.

The padayatra is currently going on in Nellore district and expected to reach Tirupati this week.

The organisers of padayatra sought stadium belonging to Sri Venkateshwara University (SVU) to hold a huge public meeting on December 16 to mark the completion of 45-day maha padayatra.

But Jagan government directed SVU officials not to give stadium for public meeting.

But private individuals in Tirupati are coming forward to allot place to hold rally.

A private individual has given his land along Nayudupeta-Puthalapattu highway adjacent to Toyota showroom near Tirupathi to conduct public meeting.

The padayatra organisers submitted this proposal to Tirupati police seeking permission to hold public rally in this ground along with the consent letter of the land owner.

The police permission is awaited.

Has AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy proved himself one-up on the employees association leaders? He has made the key announcement on the PRC without even consulting the leaders, who have served the notice for agitation? Sources say that this is Jagan’s way of denying any credit to the leaders.

After they served the strike notice, the leaders of the unions were expecting a call from YS Jagan for discussions. They had even announced their schedule of protests. However, instead of calling them for discussion, Jagan made the announcement of PRC in Tirupati. Now that the PRC has happened, their union leaders are completely marginalised. They cannot claim credit for the PRC as Jagan has already announced it.

Interestingly, Jagan did not respond to their strike calls. Also, he has not made any offers to the leaders. He has directly made the announcement virtually ignoring them. As a result, the union has got what it wanted. Only thing it could not get was credit for the achievement.

Sources say that YS Jagan was upset that the unions were trying to put the government in a spot by putting unreasonable demands. Hence, he decided to make the announcement without keeping them in the loop. The employees’ unions are also unhappy that only union president Venkatrami Reddy is being allowed to meet the CM. The remaining leaders have no access whatsoever. By his latest action, YS Jagan has shown the employees union leaders their place, say those in the know.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday visited some flood-hit villages in Chittoor and Nellore districts and assured all help to the affected people.

The Chief Minister, who toured some flood-hit areas in YSR Kadapa district on Thursday, began his visit on the second day from Tirupati town.

He visited Krishna Nagar and Saraswati Nagar of Tirupati Municipal Corporation and inspected the damaged roads and houses. He also interacted with the flood victims.

As people brought their concerns to the notice of the Chief Minister, he immediately directed the officials to resolve their grievances at the earliest. He also asked the district Collector to take special measures to create employment opportunities for the youth who lost their livelihood during floods.

Jagan Mohan Reddy personally visited Vijayakumari of Saraswati Nagar, who was severely injured in a road accident and is receiving treatment, upon her request to meet him. He inspected the bridge over the Swarnamukhi River at Tiruchanur-Padipeta, which was washed away during floods.

Later, he visited a photo exhibition depicting the flood intensity in Muthlareddipalle area, along with Chandragiri and Tirupati constituencies. He also enquired from women about the response of the officials during the floods and regarding compensation provided to them. They thanked the Chief Minister for his support and told him that officials have responded well and helped them during floods. He assured them that all measures will be taken to prevent such floods in the future.

He lauded the efforts of people who had displayed unparalleled bravery in the floods of the Swarnamukhi River which was overflowing with heavy rains and also felicitated police constable Prasad and honored three others Srinivas Reddy, Madhu, and Reddappa, who played a vital role in flood relief operations.

Later, the Chief Minister headed to Nellore district from Renigunta Airport and visited the flood-affected areas in the district. He inspected the damaged R&B road at Devarapalem and the Nellore-Mulumudi-Tatiparthi road in the Nellore Rural Zone.

The district Collector informed him that temporary road restoration works are being carried out at a cost of Rs 18.5 lakh and Rs 50 lakh would be required for permanent repairs. Reddy also inspected the damaged Penna river embankment and crops at Jonnawada.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy was forced to concede to the demand of AP government employees on implementing new PRC pay scales (pay revision commission) to employees and pensioners.

Jagan on Friday (today) announced to implement new PRC within ten days.

Jagan made this announcement in Tirupati during his visit to flood hit areas.

Few employees associations met Jagan in Tirupati and demanded implementation of new PRC.

It may be recalled that the AP employees associations have threatened to go on indefinite strike in December if the government fails to implement new PRC.

AP employees are angry at Jagan for keeping new PRC pending for several months despite neighbouring Telangana CM KCR announced new PRC for Telangana employees in March this year.

KCR announced 30% fitment (hike on basic pay) as part of new PRC while AP employees unions are demanding 40% fitment.

The AP government is struggling to pay even the existing pay scales on time due to financial crisis.

Against this backdrop, doubts arise over whether Jagan will be able to give at least 30% fitment like KCR.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday visited YSR Kadapa district which was affected by recent heavy rains and floods and interacted with affected people.

He met the farmers and flood affected people at Pulapatturu village. He walked around the village and consoled the victims.

Later, the Chief Minister attended the programme for sanctioning houses to be built in five cents of land to the people who lost their houses due to heavy rains and floods. In his remarks on the occasion, he was all praise for the officials for their quick response during the floods.

Claiming that the compensation has been given to 98 per cent of the people, he said those who missed can approach the village secretariat and get it.

The Chief Minister said 293 houses were damaged in Pulapatturu village and the state government will build each house in five cents for them. He said the state government would provide compensation to every farmer who lost the crop and added that Rs 12,000 would be given to them to clear sand dunes in their farms.

He said employment would be provided to everyone through MGNREGS works as there won’t be agriculture works due to the breach of two projects. He assured women that a moratorium would be imposed for a year on their DWACRAA loans.

Reddy said educated youth, who suffered losses, will be provided jobs and loans within 10 days. He said six Deputy Collectors were assigned to carry out relief works in the villages and they would be available till Sunday to solve all the problems.

The Chief Minister said Pincha dam and Annamayya dam will be redesigned and constructed to handle more flood inflows and added that retaining walls will be constructed along the sides of residential areas till Nandaluru bridge to avoid flood water entering into those areas.

A depression in Bay of Bengal from November 13 to November 20 triggered heavy to very heavy rains in south coastal Andhra Pradesh and Rayalaseema.

The heavy rains and floods battered Nellore, Chittoor, Kadapa, and Anantapur districts, leaving at least 40 people dead. According to officials, 25 people went missing. A total of 1,402 villages in 196 mandals and four towns were affected.

The cost of the crops damage and loss to infrastructure is estimated at over Rs 6,000 crore.