The dispute within the family of YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has escalated into a political spat, with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu accusing his predecessor of prioritising personal interests over family values and public welfare.Addressing a joint press conference with Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Andhra Pradesh BJP president PVN Madhav on Tuesday, Naidu alleged that Jagan was preoccupied with protecting his properties while the ruling National Democratic Alliance (NDA) was focused on the welfare of the poor."Jagan's focus is on palaces. The NDA's focus is on the poor," Naidu said, questioning why the former chief minister was not following his mother, YS Vijayamma's, advice on the family's inherited property.The remarks came amid renewed attention on the strained relationship between Jagan and his sister, Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president YS Sharmila, following a disagreement over the venue for her daughter Anjili's wedding, scheduled for November.
Jagan reportedly declined Sharmila's request to host the wedding at his Bengaluru residence, known as Yelahanka Palace, citing security and privacy concerns. He instead offered his Hyderabad property at Lotus Pond as an alternative, according to a letter dated October 9.Naidu questioned Jagan's decision, arguing that Vijayamma, as the family's elder, should be heard on matters concerning the assets inherited after the death of her husband, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
Naidu also referred to the murder of former minister YS Vivekananda Reddy, Rajasekhara Reddy's brother, and the continuing differences within the extended YSR family. The case has remained politically sensitive in Andhra Pradesh.Drawing a parallel with the state's situation under Jagan's five-year tenure as Chief Minister, Naidu questioned who was responsible for the various crises and whether Andhra Pradesh should suffer losses and humiliation for the sake of one individual.He also criticised those he alleged were backing the opposition for political gain or seeking positions rather than safeguarding the state's interests.
Referring to the "Paytm batch", he accused a section of Jagan’s supporters of acting in the opposition leader’s interests.The Chief Minister invoked the family dispute to reinforce his broader political attack on the YSRCP, presenting the NDA government's welfare agenda as a contrast to what he described as Jagan's preoccupation with personal properties and interests.The remarks come amid a wider confrontation between the ruling alliance and the YSRCP over allegations of violence and intimidation during the local body election process. The opposition has accused the ruling party of preventing its candidates from filing nominations and alleged that Naidu's attacks on Jagan are intended to divert attention from those claims.The wedding venue disagreement has consequently become another political flashpoint, with the ruling alliance questioning Jagan's conduct and the YSRCP accusing it of exploiting a private family matter for political gain.- Ends