The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Friday, 2 October 2026, launched a sharp attack on the Andhra Pradesh coalition government, alleging that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu had abandoned drought-hit farmers in Rayalaseema while channelling resources into publicity-driven events under the 'Rising Rayalaseema' banner and the proposed ₹1 lakh crore Horticulture Hub. Former minister Kurasala Kannababu and YSRCP State General Secretary Gadikota Srikanth Reddy made the allegations at a press conference in Tadepalli, demanding immediate drought relief for affected farmers across the region.

Scale of the Drought Crisis

According to Kannababu, 186 of the 388 drought-declared mandals across Andhra Pradesh are located in Rayalaseema, along with 159 of the 283 severely drought-affected mandals. He cited rainfall deficits between June and September that reportedly reached 63.1% in Annamayya district, 56.6% in Sri Sathya Sai district, 47.3% in Chittoor district, 46% in YSR Kadapa district, 42% in Kurnool district, and 42.2% in Nandyal district.

Kannababu further alleged that nearly seven lakh borewells had dried up by August, with farmers reportedly drilling up to 800 feet without finding water. Mango and citrus orchards were said to be withering, with farmers relying on tankers to save plantations. He also alleged that the government had delayed the formal declaration of drought despite conditions deteriorating much earlier.

Allegations Against the Horticulture Hub Announcement

Kannababu described the Madanapalle Horticulture programme as an 'event-management exercise', pointing out that the 2026-27 Budget allocated only ₹1,123 crore to the Horticulture Department and a mere ₹200 crore for the proposed hub. He claimed there was no clarity on private investors, the purported ₹60,000 crore private investment commitment, or the claimed World Bank funding.

He drew parallels with earlier announcements under Chief Minister Naidu's previous tenure — including Hyperloop, bullet trains, seaplanes, Airbus, Lockheed Martin, and Alibaba data centres — projects he alleged failed to materialise. Former minister Sake Sailajanath echoed these concerns, alleging that the proposed hub had no substantive budgetary allocation and could result in corporate land acquisition, potentially reducing farmers to labourers on their own land.

Farm Distress and Price Collapse

YSRCP State General Secretary Srikanth Reddy alleged that the government had no contingency plan despite widespread crop distress and severe rainfall deficits. He claimed that tomato prices had fallen to ₹30–₹40 per 15-kg box, while growers of chilli, onion, banana, citrus, and mango were also struggling due to non-remunerative prices. He alleged that crop insurance, input subsidy, and fodder support had been neglected by the administration.

YSRCP's Demands

The YSRCP leaders presented a set of demands including an immediate reassessment of drought-hit mandals, rescheduling of crop loans, restoration of free crop insurance, input subsidies, fodder support, compensation of ₹25,000 per acre for damaged crops, and ₹15,000 per acre for unsown land. They called on the government to halt publicity-driven events and announce a comprehensive drought-relief programme for Rayalaseema's farming communities without delay.

This comes amid broader political friction between the ruling coalition and YSRCP, which governed the state until the 2024 elections. The government has not yet formally responded to the allegations.