Deputy CM Narayana Swamy accuses Chandrababu of neglecting marginalised communities

Tirupati: Deputy chief minister K. Narayana Swamy on Thursday launched a scathing attack on Telugu Desam chief Nara Chandrababu Naidu, saying his governments had neglected the educational and healthcare needs of tribals, dalits, other backward communities and minorities.

He lauded the efforts of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in providing quality healthcare and education to these communities. This, he said, signalled a significant shift in the state's priorities.

Addressing a gathering during the YSRC  Samajika Saadhikara Yatra, the deputy CM said Chandrababu's governments failed to even provide uniforms to students from marginalized communities. “The present government is distributing tablets and educational support, aiming to empower these sections of society.”

He accused the former CM of sidelining SCs, STs, BCs, and minorities, "to favour his own caste."

Swamy praised Jagan Mohan Reddy for standing by the underprivileged and women, “offering them economic and social security.”

Deputy CM Amjad Basha highlighted the “empowerment” that has taken place in the Chittoor district under the YSRC government. He said, "The Samajika Saadhikara Yatra has attracted nationwide attention. “The chief minister has transformed the lives of the SCs, STs, BCs and minorities and made them a powerful social force.”

Minister Venugopala Krishna took aim at Chandrababu, saying that he had even lost the polls in his own constituency, Kuppam, during local elections. He accused the TD chief of deceiving and cheating backward castes, a practice that “started with Naidu's uncle NTR, and the deceit was extended to women, farmers and others.”

Local MLA Srinivasulu praised the Chief Minister for governing the state with the “dual focus on development and welfare.” He highlighted the development of Chittoor region and the construction of three reservoirs, a 4-lane road, and a 4-lane bypass road between Chittoor and Puthalapattu in the past nearly five years of the YSRC rule.

He also mentioned the opening of the Chittoor Vijaya Dairy, once the second-largest dairy in the country, during Jagan Mohan Reddy’s term as CM, in contrast to its “unfortunate closure during Naidu's rule.”