1000 Days Of AP CM Jagan: Boquets & Brickbats

Jagan”s 1000 day rule is replete with applause and criticism too. The YCP government’s focus on welfare of the down-trodden through the flagship programme Navaratnalu had won encomiums from Nobel laureates like Kailash Satyarthi for the Amma Vodi that was designed to ensure school education to the poor children in the state.

There was criticism too on the same development schemes as his detractors said the government had borrowed heavily towards their implementation.

Political analysts feel that approaching the courts was the main feature during Jagan’s rule.

Policies and decisions

Many policies and decisions taken by the government had become controversial and the opposition parties moved the courts on the same.

However, the beneficiaries of government schemes are all praises for the YCP administration as the volunteers of ward/village secretariats are ensuring that the pensions and ration are reaching the doorstep by the first of every month. They are happy that the government is taking good care of the poor and that they are able to have own houses as large chunks of land has been distributed through ‘Pedalandariki Illu’.

But, the opposition parties alleged that the delivery of ration to the doorstep and the purchase of vehicles for it was a wasteful expenditure. The TDP leaders also said that distribution of free money would only make the poor lazy and termed the whole exercise as a vote buying tactics. The YCP is buying votes for the party with public money which should be used for infrastructure and other providing other amenities for the people, TDP leaders alleged.

Schemes laden with corruption

At the same time, there were allegations that the YCP leaders resorted to heavy corruption in the implementation of the scheme and also destroyed the mangrove forest near Kakinada.

Injustice to Andhra Pradesh during bifurcation of the state and progress of Andhra’s lifeline Polavaram project have taken a beating during Jagan’s rule and it has been criticised time and again by former MP Undavalli Arun Kumar. He even advised Jagan about the points based on which he could fight for justice to the state.

The Opposition TDP and YCP rebel MP K. Raghu Ramakrishna Raju have been lambasting the state government for its corruption through sand, liquor and cement scams. The TDP also blamed the YCP for targeting their party cadre and their businesses by implicating them in false cases. At times, the TDP leaders alleged that they were even jailed and killed for opposing the YCP on any issue relating to the public. TDP MP Galla Jayadev has even shifted the base of their business to neighbouring Tamil Nadu unable to withstand the ‘harassment’ by the YCP government.

Meanwhile, the aam aadmi had been complaining about the increasing taxes on essential goods and making their life burdensome.

Heavy taxing

Despite taxing the people heavily, the government raised alarm about an impending economic crisis in the state in the Parliament too. This made several economists wonder why the government was borrowing heavily even when it was earning enough through taxes on all possible things, including liquor, essentials and fuels, to implement all the welfare schemes introduced by the YCP government.

Amaravati farmers

Stalling the development works in Amaravati, identified to be capital of Andhra Pradesh during the TDP regime, is another blot on the YCP government which led to a prolonged protest by the farmers of the capital region. They protested for more than 800 days after filing several petitions in the court seeking withdrawal of Jagan’s decision to have three capitals to ensure uniform development across the state. Finally, the court also delivered the verdict in favour of the farmers and directed the government to develop the capital Amaravati, which has been a setback to the chief minister and his coterie.

Political observers also pointed out to the fact that the YCP government had failed to secure the special category status to the state on which Jagan had criticised the TDP government during his election campaign and said that former CM N. Chandrababu Naidu had compromised on the issue for his vested interests. Naidu had agreed to be happy with special package but not fought sincerely for SCS only to remain in power by appeasing the BJP, as the TDP has a political alliance, Jagan said.

Online movie tickets

Recently, the YCP government’s foray into retail selling of fish and meat and also its interference into the film industry’s affairs in the name of online movie ticket sale by the authorities have drawn heavy sarcasm from all quarters in the state.

The ouster of state election commissioner Nimmagadda Ramesh Kumar and the drama associated with it had also raked up controversy which led to serious legal debate.

Jagan-led YCP government seems to be mostly involved in settling personal scores with Chandrababu Naidu for which he is even targeting the TDP cadre rather than focusing on the administration. Given the heavy mandate, he can deliver good governance that is appealing to the public instead of resorting to unconstitutional ways in the implementation of government schemes and policies, advise senior political leaders.