Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh strongly criticized YSRCP chief and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, accusing him of misappropriating public funds to build an extravagant mansion on Rushikonda hill. Lokesh claimed that the site, originally designated for a tourism project, was instead converted into a private luxury residence, which he labeled as Andhra Pradesh’s 'Sheesh Mahal' (glass palace).

Attacking Jagan Reddy’s leadership, Lokesh remarked, “He believed himself to be the Saddam Hussein of Andhra Pradesh and thought he would stay in power for 30 years.” Despite his own political lineage, Lokesh stated he had never seen such lavish accommodations. He further revealed that the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change (MoEFCC) had imposed a ₹200 crore penalty on the state due to environmental violations linked to the mansion’s construction. Lokesh also pointed out that Jagan Reddy's family, now reduced to just four members, resided in a property worth ₹700 crore, which, according to him, was even grander than the Prime Minister’s residence.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Lokesh reiterated, “This was originally a tourism project before it was turned into a ‘Sheesh Mahal’. Jagan Mohan Reddy believed he was the Saddam Hussein of Andhra Pradesh and that he would rule for three decades.” He added, “My grandfather was a Chief Minister, my father is the Chief Minister, yet I have never seen rooms this massive in my life.” The current Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led NDA government is now considering how to repurpose the lavish estate, with Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s administration accusing Jagan Reddy of gross financial mismanagement.

In addition to these allegations, Lokesh also expressed concerns over the deterioration of academic standards in the state’s schools due to the policies of the previous YSRCP government. Addressing the Legislative Council members Duvvarapu Rama Rao, P. Ashok Babu, and B. Tirumala Naidu, he pointed out that students’ reading abilities had significantly declined between 2014 and 2024.

Citing the Annual Status of Education Report (ASER), Lokesh noted that in 2014, 57% of students could read their grade-level books with ease, but this figure dropped to 37.5% under YSRCP’s tenure. Similarly, the percentage of eighth-grade students capable of reading second-grade Telugu books plummeted from 80% in 2014 to 53% in 2024. Furthermore, he highlighted that the total enrollment in government schools and junior colleges had decreased by 12 lakh, bringing the total down to 33.4 lakh.

Lokesh blamed the YSRCP government for imposing hasty and poorly planned educational reforms that adversely affected students, parents, and teachers. He assured that the TDP-led NDA government was implementing 10 to 15 key educational reforms to improve academic standards while eliminating political interference in teacher transfers. He concluded by emphasizing that these initiatives would significantly enhance the state’s overall education quality, and his government was committed to ensuring meaningful improvements.

Disclaimer: This image is taken from X@naralokesh.