YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu during a press conference at the YSRCP office in Tadepalli on Thursday, accusing him of making derogatory remarks and mismanaging state resources.
The verbal volley came in response to Naidu’s alleged “Bhustapitham” (a term implying finishing off) comment.
Jagan accused Naidu of contradicting his own promises by mortgaging Andhra Pradesh’s mineral wealth worth Rs 1.91 lakh crore to issue Non-Convertible Debentures (NCDs) through the AP Mineral Development Corporation (APMDC) under GO No. 69, dated April 24, 2025. “Naidu claimed he would not pledge state assets, yet he has hypothecated mineral rights, risking the state’s financial autonomy,” Jagan alleged, calling the move unconstitutional and a threat to long-term fiscal sustainability.
The former Chief Minister also seized the opportunity to address a controversial poster displayed during his recent visit to Sattenapalli in Palnadu, featuring him in a fiery avatar with the dialogue
“Rappa Rappa” from the blockbuster movie Pushpa 2: The Rule. The poster, implying a strong retaliatory stance, drew attention when it was revealed that the individual responsible was a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) worker. Far from condemning the poster, Jagan embraced it, mimicking Allu Arjun’s iconic beard-touching gesture from the film.
“What’s wrong with using Pushpa dialogues? Is it against democracy to use a film dialogue?” Jagan remarked, adding, “It shows even TDP workers, disillusioned with Naidu’s governance, are turning to Pushpa dialogues to express their frustration.”
Jagan further criticized Naidu for scrapping welfare schemes initiated during the YSRCP regime and highlighted the state’s unemployment crisis, citing 1.56 crore jobless individuals aged 18-50, constituting nearly 38% of Andhra Pradesh’s voting population. He urged families to hold the TDP accountable for unfulfilled promises, vowing to fight on their behalf if welfare benefits are not delivered. The reference to Pushpa 2’s “Rappa Rappa” dialogue, symbolizing defiance and aggression, underscores Jagan’s attempt to connect with the masses through pop culture while intensifying his political rhetoric against Naidu.