Chandrababu Naidu accuses Jagan Mohan Reddy of damaging Andhra's image
Synopsis
Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu went beyond routine political sparring at a Saturday press conference in Amaravati — invoking mythology, a family property dispute, and Covid-era governance failures to paint YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy as a threat to the state's image and stability. The attack coincided with a dispute over local body poll nominations, adding immediate electoral stakes to the personal offensive.
Key Takeaways
CM Nara Chandrababu Naidu accused YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy of deliberately damaging Andhra Pradesh's brand image at a press conference in Amaravati on 24 October .
Naidu alleged Jagan is pushing a false narrative of law-and-order collapse to demand President's Rule and gain political mileage.
YSRCP's claims that its candidates were blocked from local body poll nominations were rejected; former Deputy Speaker Kona Raghupathi reportedly confirmed the process was smooth.
Naidu cited the 2021 local body polls where 24 per cent of MPTCs statewide were won uncontested, alleging 'intimidation and brute force.' Naidu made personal allegations against Jagan over a family property dispute, comparing his conduct to the mythological demon king 'Kansa.'
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday, 24 October launched a sharp verbal offensive against YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at a press conference in Amaravati, accusing him of deliberately undermining the state's brand image and alleging that he lacks political, moral, and family values.
Key Allegations Against Jagan
Chief Minister Naidu alleged that Jagan Mohan Reddy has been systematically working to project a narrative of law-and-order collapse in the state, with the sole purpose of demanding President's Rule and extracting political mileage. 'Jagan Mohan Reddy speaks an incomprehensible language and is consistently working with the sole agenda of claiming that law and order has collapsed in the state, purely to demand President's Rule and extract political mileage,' Naidu alleged.
Naidu described Jagan as a 'prolonged litigant' operating under the 'guise of politics,' accusing him of filing repetitive court petitions and lunch motions that are routinely postponed, while allegedly spreading misinformation through extended press conferences held after travelling from Bengaluru.
Local Body Polls and Nomination Dispute
Naidu firmly rejected YSRCP's claims that its candidates were prevented from filing nominations for the upcoming local body elections. He pointed out that police personnel not only provided security but also transported YSRCP candidates in official vehicles to facilitate their filings. Notably, he cited the public statement of YSRCP's former Deputy Speaker from Bapatla, Kona Raghupathi, who reportedly confirmed that the nomination process concluded smoothly without any hindrance — effectively contradicting his own party's claims.
Covid-Era Governance Criticism
The Chief Minister also revisited the 2021 Covid pandemic period, criticising the then-YSRCP government's decision to deploy school teachers as queue managers outside liquor outlets. He further alleged that the 2021 local body elections saw excessive uncontested victories — including 24 per cent of Mandal Praja Territorial Committees (MPTCs) statewide going uncontested — along with sweeping unanimous results in Kadapa, which he attributed to 'intimidation and brute force.'
Family Dispute and Personal Attack
In a particularly sharp personal attack, Naidu accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of treating his own mother and sister 'unfairly' in property disputes, and questioned his refusal to make Yelahanka Palace available for his niece's wedding. Asserting that YS Sharmila — Jagan's sister — holds a legitimate share in the family property, Naidu compared Jagan's conduct to that of the demon king 'Kansa' from Hindu mythology. He urged the public to recognise what he described as a 'habitual pattern of falsehoods designed to mislead the state' and warned that Jagan's overall approach was driven by 'destruction.'
Point of View
Governance critique, and personal family disputes — suggesting the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) sees aggressive counter-narrative as its primary tool ahead of local body polls. The invocation of Jagan's family property dispute is a departure from conventional political criticism and risks appearing personal rather than substantive. More telling is the Kona Raghupathi citation: using a YSRCP insider's own statement to undercut his party's nomination grievance is tactically sharp, but the broader question of whether local body elections in Andhra Pradesh are genuinely free from intimidation — by any party — deserves independent scrutiny that press conferences alone cannot provide.
NationPress
24 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did CM Chandrababu Naidu accuse Jagan Mohan Reddy of?
Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu accused YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy of deliberately damaging Andhra Pradesh's brand image, spreading misinformation about law-and-order conditions to demand President's Rule, and lacking political, moral, and family values. The allegations were made at a press conference in Amaravati on 24 October.
What is the dispute over local body poll nominations in Andhra Pradesh?
YSRCP alleged that its candidates were prevented from filing nominations for the upcoming local body elections. CM Naidu rejected this, stating that police actively provided security and transportation for YSRCP candidates. He cited former YSRCP Deputy Speaker Kona Raghupathi, who reportedly confirmed the nominations concluded without hindrance.
What did Naidu say about the 2021 local body elections?
Naidu alleged that the 2021 local body elections under YSRCP saw 24 per cent of MPTCs statewide go uncontested and that Kadapa district recorded sweeping unanimous victories, which he attributed to 'intimidation and brute force' by the then-ruling party.
Why did Naidu bring up Jagan's family disputes?
Naidu accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of treating his mother and sister YS Sharmila unfairly over property matters, and of refusing to make Yelahanka Palace available for his niece's wedding. Naidu compared this behaviour to the mythological demon king 'Kansa,' framing it as evidence of Jagan's character and fitness for public office.
What is the broader political context of this attack?
The sharp criticism comes ahead of local body elections in Andhra Pradesh, with the ruling TDP-led alliance and the opposition YSRCP engaged in escalating confrontations over governance, law and order, and electoral fairness. Naidu's press conference signals that the TDP intends to aggressively contest the opposition's narrative in the lead-up to the polls.
