YSRCP accused of stoking rift between Ministers

Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration Minister Ponguru Narayana on Thursday attacked the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), alleging that the party leaders are conspiring to create a rift between him and State Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy by using an incident that took place at the inauguration of renovated VRC High School as a pretext.

Earlier during the inauguration of the school building in July 2025, Mr. Reddy strictly opposed renaming of Venkatagiri Raja Municipal Corporation High School as VRC High School. In the presence of State IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh, he demanded the government to restore its original name.

Speaking to the media in Nellore on Thursday, Mr. Narayana clarified that he had already spoken clearly with the Endowments Minister regarding this matter and emphasised that he shares an excellent relationship with him. He stated that no amount of provocation by the YSRCP leaders to incite conflict between them would ever succeed.

“Instead of engaging in unnecessary controversies, I would respond to the YSRCP leaders’ challenges through development and welfare initiatives. I regret that the YSRCP is resorting to cheap politics even on tree-planting initiatives funded by CSR, and warned that the people would once again teach them a fitting lesson in the future,” he said.

The Minister visited several government schools in Wards 42, 48, and 49 of Nellore and also had mid-day meal with the students. He announced that all schools in the city would be modernised to international standards in a phased manner. As part of this initiative, TVS has allocated ₹6.5 crore under its CSR programme to transform the Government Model High School.

He said, “This school will offer education from nursery to intermediate. The company has already released ₹2 crore for the building. The responsibility for the school’s construction has been entrusted to a prominent developer NCC, and the work is set to be completed rapidly during the two-month summer vacation following the annual examinations.”

“Quality education is the only path to eradicating poverty. The schools are being equipped with science, computer, and robotics labs, as well as facilities for art, painting, and libraries. Tenders worth ₹20 crore for the development of the TIDCO school have been finalised. All promises made to the public would be fulfilled,” Mr. Narayana said.