The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has strongly criticized the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) coalition government for failing to clear wage arrears to MGNREGA workers for the past six months, demanding the immediate release of ₹381 crore pending wages accumulated between July 27 and December 7.
Addressing a press conference at the party’s central office in Tadepalli on Monday (December 08), YSRCP Panchayati Raj Wing State president Vennapusa Ravindra Reddy alleged that instead of generating livelihood opportunities, the coalition government had dealt a severe blow to poor workers dependent on the employment guarantee scheme. He pointed out that while 21.37 crore labour workdays were provided between April and November 2023 during the YSRCP government, only 15.94 crore workdays were generated between April and December 7, 2025 under the present regime, resulting in a loss of ₹435.14 crore to poor families.
Mr. Ravindra Reddy accused Deputy Chief Minister K. Pawan Kalyan of prioritizing an increase in cinema ticket rates over addressing wage issues affecting lakhs of rural labourers. “Mr. Pawan Kalyan says we should not call them labourers, but does he not have the responsibility to ensure their wages are paid on time?” he asked. He also demanded an explanation for the removal of 18.63 lakh MGNREGA job cards across the State, affecting nearly 7.48 lakh families.
The YSRCP leader further criticized Mr. Pawan Kalyan for taking undue credit for promotions in the Panchayati Raj department, alleging that the government merely changed designations instead of granting actual promotions.
Mr. Ravindra Reddy warned that the YSRCP will intensify State-wide protests if the government fails to release pending wages and restore job cards immediately.
Published – December 08, 2025 04:10 pm IST
