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Jagan Accuses Naidu of Betrayal
Introduction
Andhra Pradesh’s political battlefront has once again shifted to the crucial sector of healthcare and medical education. Former Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a scathing attack on current Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of systematically dismantling the state’s flagship Arogyasri healthcare scheme and obstructing the expansion of government medical colleges.
The accusations, shared in a detailed social media post and further reiterated in interactions with supporters, highlight the growing friction between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government and the opposition YSRCP. Jagan alleged that the coalition is prioritizing privatization, cronyism, and commissions over public welfare, thereby undoing the efforts undertaken during YSRCP’s tenure.
Medical Education at the Heart of the Debate
Jagan placed special emphasis on medical education infrastructure, an issue that resonates deeply with Andhra Pradesh’s youth and parents aspiring for affordable healthcare education.
According to Jagan, Andhra Pradesh had just 11 government medical colleges till 2019, despite Chandrababu Naidu serving as Chief Minister three times earlier. “Naidu did not establish even one new government medical college,” Jagan asserted, accusing him of neglecting one of the state’s most vital needs.
In contrast, during YSRCP’s five years in power, the government sanctioned 17 new medical colleges. Out of these, five were already completed and functional with classes started, while another had successfully conducted admissions after the recent elections. Jagan argued that if the coalition government had responsibly continued the work, 12 new colleges would have been operational by now.
Doubling MBBS Seats for Students
Jagan also underlined the significance of seat expansion under YSRCP. When his party assumed office, Andhra Pradesh had just 2,360 MBBS seats. With the sanctioning of new colleges, an additional 2,550 seats were created, almost doubling the total capacity to 4,910 seats.
Out of these, nearly 800 seats were already filled before the YSRCP government completed its first phase of new colleges. The system was carefully designed to ensure that 50% of the seats were free of cost, while the remaining seats were offered at substantially lower fees compared to private medical colleges.
“This step ensured that children from poor and middle-class families could dream of becoming doctors without selling their assets or being forced to look abroad,” Jagan emphasized.
Allegations of Conspiracy Against Pulivendula Medical College
One of the most serious allegations made by Jagan concerns the Pulivendula Medical College, located in his home constituency. He accused Chandrababu Naidu of writing to the National Medical Council (NMC) to block approvals and admissions for the institution.
“When parents are already being forced to send their children to countries like Ukraine, Russia, and the Philippines for MBBS seats, why is Naidu destroying the opportunity to study in Andhra Pradesh at an affordable cost?” Jagan questioned.
The charge directly paints Naidu as obstructing opportunities for students within the state, further intensifying the political tug-of-war.
The Arogyasri Healthcare Scheme: A Flashpoint
Beyond medical education, Jagan’s strongest criticism targeted the Arogyasri healthcare scheme, originally conceptualized during his father YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure and expanded under YSRCP’s government.
The scheme was designed to provide free treatment for 3,257 medical procedures with coverage of up to ₹25 lakh per family, benefitting lakhs of poor households across the state. It also included an “Arogyasri Aasara” benefit, which provided ₹5,000 per month to patients during recovery.
Jagan alleged that the current coalition government deliberately weakened and neglected the scheme. According to him, of the nearly ₹4,500 crore due to network hospitals, only ₹600 crore was released in the last 15 months, leaving unpaid dues of ₹4,000 crore.
The lack of timely payments, he claimed, crippled the functioning of hospitals and undermined healthcare access for the poor.
Shift to Private Insurance: Jagan’s Criticism
The Chandrababu Naidu-led government has announced plans to shift towards a universal health insurance model in partnership with private companies. While the government insists this would expand coverage and modernize the system, Jagan denounced the move as a scam in the making.
He argued that if the government itself was unable to spend ₹3,600 crore for Arogyasri, there was no clarity on how it would manage to spend over ₹5,000 crore annually on premiums to private insurers.
“Private insurance companies work for profit and cannot be compared with a government scheme that gave people free treatment, even during COVID-19,” Jagan charged.
He further warned that in future health emergencies, such as new epidemics, private insurers would likely refuse to cover new diseases, leaving common citizens helpless.
Accusations of Cronyism and Looting
Jagan’s political attack also carried undertones of corruption allegations. He accused Naidu of turning cabinet meetings into platforms for commissions and cronies, rather than focusing on public welfare. According to him, Naidu’s healthcare policies are designed to divert public money into the hands of his associates through inflated insurance premiums.
The shift away from a government-funded scheme to a privatized model, Jagan argued, was not about better healthcare but about enriching private entities at the cost of public health.
The Broader Political Context
These charges come at a time when Andhra Pradesh politics is experiencing heightened polarization between YSRCP and the TDP-led coalition. Jagan’s sharp focus on healthcare and education reflects an effort to highlight the contrast between his government’s welfare-driven approach and Naidu’s alleged prioritization of privatization.
By invoking the legacy of his late father YSR, who was credited with launching the original Arogyasri scheme, Jagan is also attempting to strengthen his political base and remind voters of the YSR family’s commitment to welfare policies.
Public Reaction and Implications
The debate has sparked widespread discussions among the people of Andhra Pradesh. Families struggling with medical expenses are particularly concerned about the dismantling of Arogyasri. Medical students and aspirants, on the other hand, are anxious about the uncertainty surrounding new medical colleges and approvals.
Political analysts believe that the battle over healthcare and education will be a central theme in the state’s political narrative moving forward. With rising medical costs and limited opportunities for affordable medical education, voters are likely to view these issues as decisive factors in the next elections.
Conclusion
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s accusations against Chandrababu Naidu highlight a fundamental clash of governance philosophies in Andhra Pradesh. On one side is Jagan’s vision of state-funded healthcare and expanded medical education, aimed at providing equitable opportunities for the poor and middle class. On the other is Naidu’s push towards privatization and insurance-based models, which Jagan claims are riddled with risks and potential scams.
As the debate intensifies, the real test will be how these policies affect ordinary citizens. Whether Andhra Pradesh moves towards a privatized model of healthcare or returns to a welfare-driven framework will shape not only the health of its people but also the political health of the state.
For now, Jagan’s words capture the intensity of the debate: “Naidu is looting public assets, dismantling healthcare, and destroying opportunities for our children. The people of Andhra Pradesh deserve better.”
