Former YSR Congress Party leader V Vijaya Sai Reddy, who has announced plans to launch a new political party in Andhra Pradesh by the Dasara festival, has ridiculed Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s ambitious plan to transform all eight districts of Rayalaseema into a “Global Horticulture Hub.”
In a stinging post on X, Sai Reddy questioned how the government proposed to expand horticulture in the drought-prone region without creating adequate water storage and irrigation infrastructure.
He described the government’s announcement as a “diversion programme”, alleging that it was being promoted at a time when agricultural fields were drying up due to the impact of El Niño.
“While green fields are drying up due to the impact of El Niño, you have organised a grand programme saying that all eight districts of Rayalaseema will be transformed into a ‘Horticulture Hub’. What a diversion programme, Chandrababu garu!” he said.
Sai Reddy sought to shift the focus to what he described as the region’s long-standing water-storage deficit. Referring to Naidu’s long political career, he questioned why Rayalaseema had not received even a single reservoir with a storage capacity of 50 TMC despite Naidu having become Chief Minister in 1995 and subsequently serving four terms in the post.
“After 45 years of your political career, and after becoming CM as early as 1995 and serving four terms as Chief Minister, not even a single 50-TMC reservoir has been constructed in Rayalaseema,” he said.
The former YSRCP leader questioned the feasibility of expanding horticulture across Rayalaseema during the summer months without first addressing water availability.
“Now, will you grow horticultural plantations all over Rayalaseema in this scorching summer? You have put on quite a programme without allowing anyone even to raise the question of where the water will come from to keep the plants alive,” he said.
Water availability is at the heart of Vijaya Sai Reddy’s criticism. He argued that large-scale horticulture requires assured irrigation and adequate water-storage capacity, particularly in a region that frequently faces drought conditions.
He questioned how the government could create what it describes as horticultural and “Nandana Vanam” landscapes without building large reservoirs and irrigation canals.
“Without water, without large water reservoirs and without digging canals, how will you grow horticultural gardens and Nandana Vanams? Could you please reveal that secret, Babu garu?” Vijaya Sai Reddy said in his post.
Vijaya Sai Reddy also made a political allegation against the present YSRCP leadership, claiming that what he described as a “YSRCP coterie” operating under Naidu’s control was preventing the Chief Minister from being questioned over the water issue.
He alleged that this group had “blindfolded its leader” to ensure that Naidu was not confronted over the lack of irrigation infrastructure in Rayalaseema.
Concluding his post on a sarcastic note, Sai Reddy invoked the Telugu film Aa Okkati Adakku, saying Naidu’s approach reminded him of the film.
