Andhra Pradesh HRD and IT Minister Nara Lokesh on Thursday, 17 September 2026, directed that not a single DJ vehicle should be seized during Ganesh Nimmajanam processions across the state. The minister intervened after receiving messages from the public that police were declining to grant permissions for DJ vehicles during the immersion celebrations.

Lokesh's Directive and Appeal

Taking to social media platform X, Nara Lokesh flagged that police were reportedly withholding permissions for DJ vehicles during Ganesh Nimmajanam. He directly appealed to Home Minister V. Anitha and Director General of Police Harish Kumar Gupta to ensure permissions are issued without hassle. 'Not a single DJ vehicle should be seized,' he stated unequivocally in his post.

Home Minister Responds Promptly

Home Minister V. Anitha responded swiftly to Lokesh's public appeal on X, confirming that she had issued necessary instructions to the police department. According to her post, DJ permissions for Ganesh Nimmajanam are to be processed in accordance with prescribed guidelines. She added: 'The celebrations should uphold the spirit of the occasion and should not deviate from the ethos of Hindu Dharma.'

Free Electricity for Ganesh Pandals

Separately, the Andhra Pradesh government has extended additional festive support by providing free electricity to Ganesh pandals across the state. The Andhra Pradesh Central Power Distribution Corporation (APCPDCL) on 10 September issued orders for free temporary electricity supply to pandals — up to 3 KW in rural areas and 5 KW in urban areas under the LT Temporary supply category — covering the nine-day period from 14 September to 22 September.

The free power initiative follows a policy decision by the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led NDA government. APCPDCL directed Superintending Engineers across operational circles to extend the benefit to all authorised pandal organisers, with applications to be consolidated and billing statements submitted to the Chief General Manager/Finance/Corporate Office without delay.

Lokesh Had Announced Free Power a Day Earlier

The APCPDCL order came a day after Lokesh publicly announced the initiative on X. 'I am happy to announce that this Ganesh Chaturthi, all Ganesh pandals across Andhra Pradesh will be provided free electricity. This is a major festive initiative by our government to support communities celebrating across the state and make the celebrations even more vibrant,' he had stated.

Broader Context

The twin interventions — on DJ permissions and free electricity — reflect the TDP-led government's visible effort to position itself as a facilitator of large-scale public celebrations during one of Andhra Pradesh's biggest festivals. Notably, Ganesh Nimmajanam processions are traditionally accompanied by DJ vehicles, and any restrictions tend to generate public backlash quickly. With immersion day coinciding with the close of the nine-day festival window, authorities are under pressure to ensure smooth, permission-backed celebrations. How the police and distribution companies implement both directives on the ground will determine whether the government's public outreach translates into friction-free festivities.