Jagan Alleges ‘Jungle Raj’ in Andhra Pradesh, Accuses TDP Government of Suppressing Dissent

YSR Congress Party president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has launched a sharp attack on the ruling coalition government in Andhra Pradesh, alleging that democratic institutions are being weakened and opposition voices are being systematically suppressed.

In a strongly worded statement issued from Tadepalli, Jagan accused Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu of running a “police-driven administration” and turning the state into what he described as a “Jungle Raj” , where critics are allegedly being silenced through coercive action.

He claimed that opposition leaders, journalists and social media activists were being targeted for questioning the government, and alleged that police machinery was being misused for political purposes.

Referring to recent developments in Ponnuru constituency in Guntur district , Jagan condemned what he described as “police excesses” against YSRCP leaders who were visiting Mamillapalle village to meet affected farmers.

He alleged that leaders including Jogiramesh , Jupudi Prabhakar , Vallikuri Ashok Babu , Peta Naga Mohan Krishna and Ambati Murali were attacked and arrested by police while attempting to express solidarity with farmers.

Calling the incident “undemocratic and excessive,” he questioned why the government appeared “so sensitive” to peaceful protests.

Jagan also raised concerns over the fall in maize prices, stating that farmers were receiving far below the expected Minimum Support Price (MSP) of around ₹2,400 per quintal. According to him, farmers were instead being paid between ₹1,400 and ₹1,600, causing severe financial distress.

He further alleged that farmers from the Kapu community in Mamillapalle, who stored their produce in a local warehouse due to low prices, were attacked and later booked under serious charges, including SC/ST Atrocities cases , following complaints linked to local political figures such as Ponnuru MLA Dhulipalla Narendra .

The YSRCP chief also criticised what he called the “intimidation of intellectual voices,” referring to the reported case filed against noted academic and analyst Professor K. Nageshwar .

Jagan said that individuals who provide independent political commentary should not be subjected to legal harassment, and questioned whether speaking the truth or criticising the government was now being criminalised.

Warning the state leadership, Jagan said that no government could continue indefinitely by “stifling opposition voices” and using police forces as a political tool. He asserted that public resistance would grow if alleged injustices continued.

Reaffirming his party’s stance, he said the YSR Congress Party would continue to stand with people and fight what he described as “repression and misuse of power.”