Bapatla district president and former minister Merugu Nagarjuna criticized the TDP coalition government for imposing an additional burden of Rs. 6,072 crore on the public through increased power tariffs. He pointed out that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who had promised not to raise electricity charges before elections, reversed his stance within just four-and-a-half months, hiking rates by Rs. 1.58 per unit.
Speaking to the media at the party central office, Nagarjuna said the TDP coalition government has abandoned farmers by discontinuing free crop insurance and failing to provide promised support for agricultural investments. He condemned Naidu’s television show “Unstoppable” as full of false statements and claimed that it was an attempt to gain public sympathy through misleading narratives.
Nagarjuna noted that even when Naidu was arrested in connection with the Skill Scam, where he misappropriated Rs. 371 crore, he continued to deny any wrongdoing. Nagarjuna questioned how Naidu, despite all jail privileges, used his media allies to propagate a narrative of deteriorating health and threats to his life.
The former minister further criticized the government’s decision to impose additional “True-Up” charges over 15 months, beginning in November, and the imposition of a minimum charge of Rs. 50, even if no electricity is used.
