One Year of Coalition Rule in Andhra: Big Promises, Limited Delivery?
In Andhra Pradesh, the coalition government of TDP, Janasena, and BJP is about to complete one year in power. During this one year, how has the government under the leadership of Chief Minister Chandrababu performed? Has it met the expectations of the people? Has it fulfilled the promises made before the elections for the sake of votes? These questions are naturally being raised. When asked whether Chandrababu Naidu has achieved any notable successes in this one year, apart from the consistent monthly distribution of Rs. 4,000 social pensions, there aren’t any significant accomplishments to mention. Many of the promises made in the "Super Six" before the elections are yet to be implemented. However, compared to the previous Jagan government, employees are now receiving their salaries on time. During Jagan's tenure, employees struggled not knowing when they would receive their pay.
Another key issue is that liquor, which was never a major election topic in the past, became a significant issue during Jagan's regime. Not only that, but the scenario of promising to provide quality liquor upon coming to power also unfolded uniquely in AP. Compared to Jagan's tenure, those accustomed to liquor now have access to their preferred brands. During Jagan's rule, the government restricted consumption to only the brands it sold, leaving no choice even for those who could afford more. That restriction is no longer present. Liquor consumers are now getting their preferred brands. While the Chandrababu government may not highlight this as a success, the past issue has certainly been resolved. In a nutshell, this time time has favored Chandrababu.
As the Modi government at the Centre did not secure a full majority for the third time, it became necessary to form a government at the Centre in alliance with TDP and JD(U). Even so, Chandrababu could not raise issues like the special status promise made during state bifurcation. Politically, this is a major minus. Some TDP leaders feel that Chandrababu has completely surrendered to the Modi government. However, the Chandrababu government has been successful in securing loans from the World Bank and other financial institutions for the Andhra Pradesh capital Amaravati, with the Centre also cooperating. Still, there is no sign of demanding large-scale grants for Amaravati, let alone implementing bifurcation promises including special status. From the moment he came to power, Chandrababu has been functioning with the mindset that securing loans is itself a great fortune. Even before the completion of Amaravati’s first phase, the proposal to acquire another 40,000 acres for an expansion project has stirred controversy.
Another key point is that compared to Jagan's tenure, the roads in Andhra Pradesh under the coalition government have improved considerably. The horrible conditions seen earlier are no longer present. The Polavaram project is back on track. Regardless of the reasons, this long-overdue project continues to drag on. The announcement of a "Quantum Valley" to be jointly set up in Amaravati by IBM, L&T, and TCS is being considered a significant development. This should be acknowledged as a success of Chandrababu. Although there’s a lot of industrial hype, actual results will take much more time. Another key concern is how many of these will actually break ground and how many projects will be completed.
Chandrababu and Nara Lokesh, who boast that investments are pouring into Andhra Pradesh because of their brand, are facing criticism that they are looting public wealth for some companies. On the other hand, the Chandrababu government is allegedly favoring certain companies in allocating power projects, deviating from past practices. In this coalition government, from the mining department onwards, there are widespread allegations that corruption has peaked in key departments. The issue of manipulation in Amaravati tenders has reportedly reached new heights, according to officials. This time, Chandrababu is facing criticism for bringing many new and "lightweight" members into the cabinet and centralizing governance in a style similar to Jagan’s. Except for a few senior ministers, many are said to be operating under remote control. As for the party, although the coalition achieved a record victory, the main partner, Telugu Desam Party (TDP), is facing severe dissatisfaction from its MLAs and cadre. Even the party’s own cadre severely criticized TDP leadership on social media.
Only recently, some voiced harsh comments saying that Chandrababu always speaks one way while in power and another way in opposition. They warned that those who trust the party and fight for it may face trouble in the future. Especially in the early days of the new government, providing financial benefits to some corporate firms that flourished during the previous Jagan government and appointing the same officials who held sway under Jagan to key posts did not go well with many TDP leaders and cadre. These concerns were openly voiced on social media. Now, people have seemingly given up and are minding their own business. Within Chandrababu’s cabinet, barring a few ministers, many are said to lack significant impact. Whether TDP chief and CM Chandrababu Naidu will take corrective measures in the coming days or continue the current trend remains to be seen. Another important point is that those who got used to free schemes during Jagan's tenure are now highly dissatisfied with the approach of the Chandrababu government. Among other sections, there doesn't appear to be major discontent at this moment. With three and a half years still left until the next elections, it remains to be seen how many more changes will take place.
