YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) launched state-wide protests across Andhra Pradesh on Monday, 18 May, demanding an immediate rollback of petrol and diesel prices, with party workers staging rallies, dharnas, and padayatras in nearly every constituency. The agitation, called by YSRCP president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, drew leaders, cadre, and supporters who submitted memorandums to Collectors, Revenue Divisional Officers, and Tahsildars across the state.

Fuel Prices at the Centre of the Storm

YSRCP leaders alleged that Andhra Pradesh now carries the highest fuel prices in the country, with petrol reportedly touching ₹113.62 per litre and diesel at ₹101.24 per litre, driven by what the party described as excessive VAT and cess imposed by the state government. The party argued that rising fuel costs are placing a severe burden on farmers, middle-class families, transport workers, and daily wage earners, while also triggering inflation in essential commodities.

Innovative Protests Across Constituencies

The demonstrations were notably theatrical in design. In Vijayawada East, NTR district president Devineni Avinash led a rally in which bikes were mounted on bullock carts to symbolise the financial strain on ordinary citizens. In Railway Koduru, former MLA Koramutla Srinivasulu tied autos to buffaloes and held a procession. In Vijayawada West, former minister Velampalli Srinivasa Rao pulled an auto-rickshaw with ropes near the Vidyadharapuram Tahsildar office.

In Kothapeta, Konaseema district YSRCP president Chirla Jaggireddy rode a cycle rickshaw carrying a motorcycle. In Panyam, former MLA Katasani Ram Bhupal Reddy led a rally pulling autos and bullock carts with ropes. In Pulivendula, YSRCP leaders tied ropes to a Bolero vehicle and pulled it in protest. In Visakhapatnam, district president KK Raju travelled on a bullock cart to the Tahsildar office.

Leaders Take Aim at the Coalition Government

In Guntur, former minister Ambati Rambabu alleged that the coalition government had betrayed voters who were promised fuel price reductions before elections. He targeted minister Nara Lokesh directly, sarcastically remarking that 'Lokesh is not Love-kesh but Love-Cash,' and warned that the agitation would intensify if prices were not reduced.

In Nellore, former minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy and MLC Chandrasekhar Reddy conducted a rickshaw rally from Barakasu Centre to the Collectorate. Kakani criticised Lokesh for 'posing for selfies at petrol bunks before elections but remaining silent now over soaring prices.'

Former minister Botsa Satyanarayana led a major agitation in Cheepurupalli, asserting that rising fuel costs were 'breaking the backs of farmers, labourers, and middle-class families already struggling with inflation.' He reaffirmed that YSRCP under Jagan Mohan Reddy would 'continue to fight relentlessly on public issues.'

Protests Spread to Multiple Districts

Demonstrations were also recorded in Krishna district, where Devabhaktuni Chakravarthy organised a padayatra from Tadigadapa to the municipal office. Massive rallies were held in Nandyal under former MLA Shilpa Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy and former MP Pocha Brahmananda Reddy, in Udayagiri under Mekapati Rajagopal Reddy, and in Machilipatnam under Perni Kittu, who rode a cycle rickshaw as part of the demonstration.

What Comes Next

YSRCP has not announced a deadline for the government to respond, but leaders have warned of an escalating agitation if the coalition does not act on fuel prices. The protests mark one of the party's most coordinated state-wide mobilisations since it moved to the opposition benches, and signal that fuel pricing will remain a central political fault line in Andhra Pradesh in the weeks ahead.