Andhra Pradesh Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Nara Lokesh strongly criticized former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy over the controversial construction of a Rs 500 crore hill palace in Visakhapatnam. The project has sparked widespread outrage and Lokesh announced that the state government will initiate an inquiry into the matter.
The TDP has accused Jagan Mohan Reddy of secretly constructing the opulent Rushikonda Palace in Visakhapatnam, concealed behind large barricades, during a time when the state is facing severe financial difficulties.
"While the poor struggled to thatch a roof over their children's heads, @ysjagan was building a palace for himself with the money meant for them. His exploits have left the country shocked. We’ll ensure that an inquiry is done, justice is served, and the building is devoted to the people of Andhra Pradesh," stated Nara Lokesh, son of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
The luxurious nature and excessive expenditure on Rushikonda Palace have caused a stir, particularly given Andhra Pradesh's dire financial situation, with the state being burdened by a debt of Rs 12 lakh crore.
The TDP, which recently came to power after defeating the Jagan Mohan Reddy-led YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) in the assembly elections, has highlighted the extravagant spending on various amenities during the construction of the Rushikonda Palace.
"The luxuries and comforts provided to Jagan Mohan Reddy at the Rushikonda Palace have left people in shock," said TDP spokesperson Pattabhi Ram Kommareddy. He emphasized the lavish spending on various amenities, claiming that nearly Rs 500 crore was invested in these luxuries. Notable expenditures include a bathtub worth approximately Rs 40 lakh and a commode valued between Rs 10 to Rs 12 lakh.
Additionally, Kommareddy noted that the palace reportedly features a wide array of luxurious furniture and even a spa room equipped with a high-end massage table.
He further highlighted a conflict of interest, alleging that the contract for the construction was awarded to Devi Reddy Srinath Reddy, a relative of Jagan Mohan Reddy.
In response to these allegations, YSRCP spokesperson Kanumuri Ravi Chandra Reddy defended the construction of the hill palace, asserting that it is a government asset and not private property belonging to Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Justifying the quality of the construction, he stated, "It's been constructed in a superb way that you (TDP) can use it for the President or Prime Minister's visit to Vizag. It is not Jagan Mohan Reddy's private property. It is a government asset."
