YSRCP Challenges Naidu Over Bhogapuram Airport Claims, Cites 80% Project Completion
YSRCP coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy alleges that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is claiming unearned credit for the Bhogapuram airport. The opposition asserts that the vast majority of construction and land acquisition occurred under the previous Jagan Mohan Reddy administration.
Key takeaways
- YSRCP alleges 80% of Bhogapuram airport construction was finished between 2019 and 2024 under the Jagan administration.
- Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy claims the current TDP-led government has only completed 20% of the project's total work.
- The opposition asserts that all essential Central clearances and land acquisitions were finalized by the previous YSRCP government.
- Reddy accused CM Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan of distorting the former Chief Minister's statements for political leverage.
The Battle for Infrastructure Credit
In a press briefing at the YSRCP central office on Saturday, state coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of misappropriating the previous administration's achievements. The dispute centers on the Bhogapuram airport, a project Reddy claims was 80% completed during the YSRCP's 2019-2024 term. The opposition leader argued that the current TDP-BJP-JSP alliance has overseen only 20% of the physical progress, yet Naidu continues to present the development as his own success.
Contested Timelines and Operational Delays
According to the YSRCP, the project faced significant hurdles that the former government resolved before leaving office. Reddy highlighted several key milestones achieved under Jagan Mohan Reddy's leadership:
- Securing all necessary Central clearances for the aviation facility.
- Finalizing the complex land acquisition process despite initial local protests.
- Initiating heavy construction in 2023 following the 2019 groundbreaking.
Reddy noted that while Naidu performed a ceremonial Bhoomi Puja just before the 2019 elections, the actual execution occurred later. He further contended that the airport would have been operational by the 2020–21 window if the COVID-19 pandemic had not disrupted global logistics. The YSRCP leader criticized the Chief Minister for failing to acknowledge these contributions, suggesting a recurring pattern of credit theft that extends to other projects, including the Rayalaseema steel plant.
Allegations of Suppressed Dissent
Beyond the construction timeline, the YSRCP coordinator addressed the political rhetoric currently surrounding the project. He claimed that Naidu and Deputy CM K. Pawan Kalyan are distorting statements made by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to suit a specific political narrative. Reddy also alleged that while the previous government navigated genuine farmer concerns during land acquisition, the current administration is ignoring the reality of how those thousands of acres were secured. He concluded that Jagan Mohan Reddy prioritized quality over political optics, refusing to rush a premature inauguration before the 2024 elections.
Source: The Hindu — National
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