YSRCP's central office in Tadepalli demolished; Jagan Mohan Reddy calls Naidu 'a dictator'

The YSR Congress Party's (YSRCP) under-construction central office in Tadepalli, Guntur district, was demolished early Saturday morning by municipal authorities. The demolition, which began around 5:30 a.m., was carried out by officials from the Mangalagiri-Tadepalli Municipal Corporation (MTMC) using excavators and bulldozers.

Court Order Ignored

The Capital Region Development Authority (CRDA) had issued a notice alleging illegal construction on the site. Despite the YSRCP approaching the high court on Friday and obtaining an order to halt any demolition activity, the destruction proceeded. A party spokesperson stated, "The court ordered a halt to any demolition activity and this was communicated to the CRDA Commissioner by the YSRCP's lawyer."

YSRCP President and former chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy condemned the demolition, attributing it to political vendetta by the TDP-led government. In a post on 'X,' Reddy stated, "Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had resorted to political vendetta. A dictator demolished YSRCP’s central office with bulldozers, ignoring the orders of the high court."

Allegations of Illegal Construction

CRDA and MTMC officials claimed that the YSRCP office was being constructed on irrigation department land without obtaining necessary approvals. It was alleged that under Jagan Mohan Reddy's previous government, the land, previously used for a boatyard, was leased for a minimal amount.

Jagan Mohan Reddy further criticized Naidu's actions, stating, "Through these acts, Naidu was giving a message about how his regime was going to be for the next five years. The YSRCP chief, however, said the party would not bow before these threats and political vendetta. He vowed to fight on behalf of the people and appealed to all democratic forces in the country to condemn these acts of Chandrababu Naidu."

According to a YSRCP statement, the demolition commenced around 5:30 a.m. on Saturday. "The demolition proceeded even though the YSRCP had approached the High Court the previous day (Friday), challenging the preliminary actions of the CRDA (Capital Region Development Authority)," said the statement.

The party noted that the court had ordered a halt to any demolition activity, which was conveyed to the CRDA commissioner by a party lawyer, but the authority still went ahead and demolished the structure.

The former chief minister alleged that law and justice have completely vanished in the southern state under the NDA government, comprising TDP, BJP, and Janasena, and added that the demolition indicates how Naidu's reign in the next five years would be. The YSRCP chief said that the opposition party will not be intimidated by these vendetta politics and promised that the party will fight for the people.