YSRCP targets Ministers over caste certificate row, farmer distress and governance failures

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders on Monday launched a sharp attack on the coalition government, accusing its Ministers of misleading the public and pushing farmers and vulnerable communities into distress.

At a press conference held at the party office, YSRCP East Godavari district president and former Minister Chelluboina Srinivasa Venu Gopala Krishna criticised Labour Minister Vasamshetty Subhash for his “ignorance and deliberate falsehoods” regarding the inclusion of Gowda in the Setti Balija caste certificates. He said the Minister was confusing a Government Memo with a Government Order (G.O.) and spreading misinformation to blame the YSRCP.

Mr. Venu Gopala Krishna reminded that G.O. No. 16—originally issued during Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure in 1997—was never implemented by any government until the present coalition began enforcing it from July 30, 2025. Challenging Mr. Subhash to a public debate, he vowed to apologise if it was proven that the YSRCP had issued or enforced the order and demanded that the Minister do likewise if proven wrong. He accused Mr. Subhash of betraying the Setti Balija community and attempting to cover up the government’s actions with a misinformation campaign and personal attacks.

In a separate press conference, YSRCP general secretary Gadikota Srikanth Reddy lashed out at the NDA government for “turning agriculture into a daily tragedy,” alleging that farmers across Andhra Pradesh were suffering due to the withdrawal of input subsidies, lack of relief, and collapse of crop prices.

He said that kharif cultivation in several regions had dropped below 15%, with tenant farmers left to fend for themselves. Accusing the government of dismantling Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs), denying crop insurance, enabling trader exploitation, and allowing rampant land grabbing, Mr. Srikanth Reddy warned that law and order had sharply deteriorated under the coalition’s rule.