YSRCP slams Chandrababu Naidu over 'axe party' remark, cites ₹20,489/sq ft Amaravati cost
Synopsis
YSRCP has turned TDP's 'axe party' jibe into a platform for a sweeping corruption counter-charge, citing a ₹20,489 per sq ft construction rate in Amaravati — more than four times the national benchmark — and alleging that inflated contracts are systematically benefiting Chandrababu Naidu's inner circle.
Key Takeaways
YSRCP on 3 May strongly condemned CM Chandrababu Naidu for calling the party an 'axe party' .
Former Minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy alleged the state is paying ₹20,489 per sq ft for Amaravati construction — against a standard rate of around ₹4,500 per sq ft .
YSRCP alleged that contracts were awarded to Naidu's favoured contractors at manifold inflated rates .
The party claimed the Telangana Secretariat and Parliament Bhavan were built at a fraction of Amaravati's reported cost.
YSRCP expressed confidence of a clean sweep in upcoming elections, dismissing the impact of TDP's Mahanadu event.
YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Sunday, 3 May strongly criticised Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for repeatedly labelling the opposition an 'axe party', hitting back with allegations of inflated construction contracts in Amaravati and systemic looting of the state exchequer.
The Trigger: TDP's 'Axe Party' Charge
Chandrababu Naidu and other Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders have been using the term 'axe party' to accuse YSRCP of practising what they describe as politics of murder. The opposition party has now pushed back sharply, calling the label derogatory and deflecting attention from what it terms the ruling government's financial misconduct.
YSRCP's Counterattack: Amaravati as a 'Golden Goose'
Speaking to the media in Nellore on Sunday, former Minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy alleged that Amaravati has become a 'golden goose' for Naidu and his coterie. He claimed the state is paying a construction rate of ₹20,489 per sq ft in Amaravati — more than four times the standard rate of around ₹4,500 per sq ft — and described the figure as
Point of View
489 per sq ft construction figure deserves scrutiny beyond the rhetoric. If accurate, it represents a fourfold premium over the national benchmark and would constitute one of the most expensive government construction projects per square foot in India. Neither side, however, has yet produced independently audited cost data. YSRCP's invocation of the Telangana Secretariat comparison is rhetorically effective but methodologically weak — construction specifications, land costs, and timelines differ. The deeper story is whether Andhra Pradesh's audit institutions are equipped, or willing, to examine Amaravati's books in real time.
NationPress
1 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is YSRCP calling Chandrababu Naidu's remarks derogatory?
YSRCP objects to TDP and CM Chandrababu Naidu repeatedly calling it an 'axe party', a label the ruling party uses to accuse YSRCP of politics of murder. YSRCP says the term is derogatory and is being used to distract from alleged financial misconduct by the TDP government.
What is the Amaravati construction cost controversy about?
Former YSRCP Minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government is paying ₹20,489 per sq ft for construction in Amaravati, compared to a standard rate of around ₹4,500 per sq ft. YSRCP claims the inflated rates benefit contractors favoured by Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.
Who is Kakani Govardhan Reddy?
Kakani Govardhan Reddy is a former minister and senior YSRCP leader who spoke to the media in Nellore on 3 May, levelling corruption allegations against the TDP government over Amaravati construction contracts.
What is the TDP's Mahanadu and why did YSRCP comment on it?
Mahanadu is TDP's major annual party convention. YSRCP dismissed its significance, claiming voters have already decided to give YSRCP a clean sweep in upcoming elections and that the event will have no impact on public sentiment.
How does YSRCP compare Amaravati's construction cost to other projects?
YSRCP alleged that the Telangana Secretariat and Parliament Bhavan were constructed at a fraction of the cost being spent in Amaravati, using the comparison to argue that the Amaravati rates reflect large-scale corruption under the Naidu government.
