YSRCP Accuses Chief Minister Naidu of Stealing Airport Project Credit

The Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) has accused Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of taking undue credit for infrastructure projects, specifically the Bhogapuram International Airport. Following the airport's inauguration by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 2, 2026, YSRCP leaders alleged that Naidu and his coalition partners presented a false narrative regarding the project's history.

Former Minister Gudivada Amarnath and State Coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy asserted that the government under YS Jagan Mohan Reddy completed approximately 80 percent of the work. This included spending over Rs 1,000 crore on land acquisition, resolving 130 legal issues, and achieving financial closure. They noted that while Naidu held a foundation ceremony in 2019, the YSRCP government laid a new foundation stone in May 2023 after securing essential statutory permissions and negotiating with the project developer, GMR.

Beyond the airport, the YSRCP claimed Naidu improperly took credit for the Kadapa Steel Plant and shelved plans to widen Beach Road. Party spokesperson Pitta Shiv Shankar further alleged a decline in the state's aviation sector under the current coalition, reporting that average air passenger growth dropped from 13 percent to 5.9 percent.