Coalition Govt Creating Fear Culture, Says MLA T. Chandrasekhar

YSRCP MLA from Tadipatri, T. Chandrasekhar , has strongly criticised the ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh, accusing it of creating an atmosphere of fear and intolerance towards dissent.

Speaking on social media platform X , Chandrasekhar said the government appears to be “insecure” and unable to handle criticism in a democratic manner. He alleged that the recent actions against political opponents, journalists, and social media users reflect a disturbing trend against free speech and democratic expression.

He referred to cases filed against former MLC K. Nageswara Rao , senior journalist Kommineni , and former CPRO Pudi Srihari , claiming that such actions indicate a deliberate attempt to silence critical voices.

Chandrasekhar argued that branding criticism as hostility and responding with legal cases weakens democratic institutions. He said that governance should be measured by accountability and openness, not by the ability to suppress disagreement.

He also referred to what he described as a “ Red Book governance ” culture, alleging that political power is being used to intimidate those who question the administration. According to him, this approach reflects a lack of confidence in public support and exposes the government’s discomfort with scrutiny.

“The Constitution guarantees freedom of expression , media independence, and the right to question authority,” he noted, adding that these rights cannot be selectively applied depending on political convenience. He stressed that a healthy democracy must accommodate both support and criticism, and warned against treating dissent as a threat.

The MLA further alleged that filing cases and exerting pressure on critics is a short-term tactic to cover up governance failures. He claimed that such methods may offer temporary relief to those in power, but cannot silence public opinion in the long run.

Chandrasekhar cautioned that governments relying on intimidation risk facing public backlash in the future. He said that electoral verdicts ultimately reflect the will of the people, and no administration can escape accountability forever.

Reiterating his stand, he urged the ruling coalition to respect democratic values and refrain from using state machinery for political purposes. “If a government is confident in its performance, it should not fear criticism,” he said, adding that leadership is defined by the ability to tolerate opposing voices rather than suppress them.