Jagan's Zero Tolerance to Graft May Help YSRC Gain Politically in Upcoming Polls

VIJAYAWADA: In the aftermath of the arrest of former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu in the AP skill development scam, the ruling YSRC feels its ‘zero tolerance’ policy towards corruption would help it make political gains in the coming polls.

Party leaders note that there was no adverse response from the public to the arrest and remand of Naidu.

The skill development scam, the Amaravati Inner Ring Road alignment irregularities and AP Fibernet scam took place when Naidu was the chief minister from 2014-19. Action is being taken now after a thorough inquiry and after prima facie evidence was established, the YSRC sources say.

They reject charges of a political vendetta as was projected by the Telugu Desam leaders. “The investigation agencies are doing their job after establishing the connivance of Naidu and others to the irregularities and the siphoning off of public money.”

Industries minister Gudivada Amarnath said, “Though cases were booked against Naidu and others long ago on charges of graft and other violations, action was taken now. When Jagan Mohan Reddy was serving as the leader of Opposition, he had raised the lapses in the Fibernet project and vowed to expose Naidu. It happened now. People are able to understand the facts and they can no longer be misguided.”

The YSRC leaders say the people are recalling how Naidu troubled his father-in-law and former chief minister N.T. Rama Rao, by subjecting him to public humiliation and then grabbing the party. The people think it is Naidu’s turn now to face the music in the form of jailing.

Rajahmundry MP Margani Bharat Ram said, “Our government led by CM Jagan Mohan Reddy is not tolerating any corrupt practices. We are expecting support from the people in the upcoming polls. People are against the corrupt.”

The YSRC leaders say Naidu is in the habit of manipulating things to his advantage. He got out of several cases while in some cases, he got stay orders from courts. At present, the investigation agencies like the CID spilled the beans, and the government followed these up, they said.

 Former minister K. Kannababu said, “The exposure of Naidu in several illegal activities dented his image. This would cause more damage to the TD in the upcoming polls.”

However, the Telugu Desam is bent on fighting back. It has not lost its confidence yet. Naidu’s son and party national general-secretary Nara Lokesh is making serious efforts to get his father out of jail on bail. A senior TD leader said, “Ours is mainly a caste-based party. Our party cadre and vote bank remain intact even though Naidu is in jail.”