Chandrababu Naidu's governance has been vindictive towards farmers: Former Andhra minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy

Nellore (Andhra Pradesh) [India], October 26 : YSR Congress Party Nellore District President and former minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy on Sunday lashed out at the Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu-led Andhra Pradesh government and alleged the state government of a lack of apathy toward farmers' distress caused by continuous unseasonal rains.
Speaking to the media at the YSRCP district office in Nellore, Kakani said that even as Cyclone Montha is approaching, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has not held a review meeting with the Agriculture Department. Farmers are beginning to doubt whether the state even has an agriculture minister, he remarked.
Kakani said, "From the day Chandrababu Naidu came to power, his governance has been vindictive towards farmers. Whenever he assumes office, droughts or floods inevitably destroy farmers' livelihoods -- and this has been proven once again."
He said that despite farmers suffering across the state due to relentless rains, the government remains completely inactive. Instead of standing by farmers who are battling adverse conditions, the government's apathy is worsening their plight.
"Farmers are already suffering from a severe shortage of seeds and urea. The government has utterly failed to ensure minimum support prices (MSP) for crops. While farmers are reeling under losses, Chandrababu and Lokesh are enjoying foreign trips under the guise of attracting investments -- but in reality, expanding their private businesses," he said.
Kakani recalled how similar "fake investment tours" between 2014 and 2019 yielded nothing.
He further criticised, "Even though the Meteorological Department warned about Cyclone Montha, the CM hasn't reviewed the situation. Nobody knows where the agriculture minister is. Paddy procurement centers were opened symbolically and later ignored. According to officials, farmers have around 7 lakh tonnes of paddy, but the government has purchased only 10,800 tonnes -- not even 1.5 percent of the stock."
In Nellore district, procurement centres were set up only after farmers had already sold their produce. In several areas, even though the kharif harvest began, no purchase centres have been opened, he said.
Kakani stated that Chandrababu has always been against agriculture and continues to behave as though he holds a grudge against farmers. "After the coalition government came to power, no crop has received a fair price. Farmers cultivating onions and tomatoes are forced to dump them on roads, while Chandrababu mocks their plight," he said.
He added that farmers complaining about urea shortages are being threatened as if they were playing politics. "During YSRCP's governance, there was never a shortage of urea or seeds. Through RBK centers, our government supported farmers at every stage -- from sowing to sale. Out of jealousy over Y S Jagan's popularity, Chandrababu has deliberately weakened the RBK system," Kakani alleged.
He also said that farmers who were supposed to receive Rs 40,000 under the Rythu Bharosa scheme got only Rs 5,000, and the rest was ignored. There's been no sign of free crop insurance or input subsidies. "Not a single rupee has been released so far. Every time Chandrababu comes to power, it turns into a curse for farmers," he declared.
"Farmers who cultivated cotton after paddy in hopes of better returns have been hit hard. Across the state, cotton was sown in 11 lakh acres, including 5.55 lakh acres in Kurnool district alone. Officials admit that 50,000 acres of cotton are completely damaged. Excessive rains in August and September caused the flowers and bolls to fall, leading to severe yield losses. Although the MSP for cotton is Rs 8,110 per quintal, traders are paying only Rs 4,000-Rs 6,000. Despite the fact that CCI centers were supposed to open by October 1, there is still no sign of procurement," he said.
He said that similarly, maize, cultivated in 4 lakh acres, has also been severely affected -- with yields dropping from 40 quintals to just 15-20 quintals per acre. "Against the MSP of Rs 2,400, traders are paying only Rs 1,600-Rs 1,700, leading to a loss of up to Rs 17,500 per acre. So far, over 12,000 acres of crops have already been damaged by continuing rains," he said.
He said that 2.5 Lakh acres of Crops have been damaged Statewide.
"While officials claim 1.5 lakh acres are affected by the recent rains, ground reports suggest the number is closer to 2.5 lakh acres -- with 1 lakh acres of paddy alone. The worst-affected districts include Kurnool, Prakasam, Vizianagaram, Kakinada, and Palnadu. Despite this, and despite the continuing threat from Cyclone Monthaa, the coalition government remains asleep. Even as crops sprout under floodwaters, no enumeration or damage assessment has been initiated anywhere," he said.
He said that the Meteorological Department has warned that the cyclone could heavily impact agricultural and horticultural crops, but the Agriculture Department shows no movement.
"In Krishna and Godavari deltas, where paddy is in harvest stage, and in north coastal Andhra where it's in grain formation, any heavy rainfall could devastate the entire crop. Last year, farmers lost Rs 300-Rs 500 per 75-kg bag due to lack of MSP, and this year's situation looks even worse. Although the government announced procurement targets, not even a single center has started functioning. The government's claims of purchasing crops within 24 hours after an SMS are mere propaganda, Kakani said.
Kakani warned that another urea shortage is imminent this year. He demanded that the government supply urea bags according to farmers' requirements, not based on its whims. "You cannot treat urea distribution like ration supplies. Urea should be made abundantly available, or Chandrababu will be remembered as a failed leader in history, he said.
Kakani described the recent Kurnool bus fire accident, which claimed over 20 lives, including those from Udayagiri (Nellore district), as a "government-made tragedy." He said the accident occurred after a youth who consumed spurious liquor from a belt shop crashed into a divider, leading to the bus catching fire.
He said that there are over one lakh belt shops operating freely across the state, and the government is doing nothing. These illegal liquor shops are running 24/7, causing horrific accidents and loss of innocent lives
He accused the government of prioritising liquor revenue over public safety, while TDP leaders pocket the profits. "Law and order is collapsing due to uncontrolled liquor sales. The government must treat the Kurnool bus tragedy as a wake-up call and immediately shut down all belt shops," he demanded.
Kakani ridiculed former minister Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, saying, "A person who doesn't even know the difference between a Data Center and a Development Center has no right to take Y. S. Jagan's name."
He added, "During Chandrababu's visit to Nellore, he didn't even want to see Somireddy's face. Out of desperation to impress him, Somireddy started making baseless allegations against Jagan. He should first check his own physical and mental condition before commenting on others."
In conclusion, Kakani Govardhan Reddy held the coalition government and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu responsible for the suffering of farmers, accusing them of indifference, negligence, and deliberate anti-farmer policies. He demanded immediate relief measures, procurement centers, and strict action against illegal liquor sales across the state.