Rising Prices Trigger War of Words Between TDP and YSRCP

A political war of words has erupted between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) over the rising cost of essential commodities in Andhra Pradesh, with both sides accusing each other of misleading the public with selective price comparisons.

YSRCP president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy alleged that prices of essential commodities and food products had increased sharply under the TDP-led coalition government. In a post on X on Friday night, he claimed that prices had risen by 8 per cent to 433 per cent over the past two years, significantly increasing the financial burden on ordinary households. He also pointed to higher electricity tariffs, RTC bus fares and other service charges.

Comparing prices during the previous YSRCP government with current rates, Jagan cited increases across several essential commodities. According to his figures, a 25-kg bag of rice had risen from Rs.1,400 to Rs.2,375, while palm oil had increased from Rs.85 to Rs.165 per litre and sunflower oil from Rs.110 to Rs.189.

The price of onions had jumped from Rs.15 to Rs.80 per kg, while toor dal had increased from Rs.110 to Rs.180 and sugar from Rs.30 to Rs.65. Milk prices had risen from Rs.44 to Rs.80 per litre and eggs from Rs.4.50 to Rs.8 apiece. He also cited increases in cooking gas, tomatoes, petrol and diesel prices.

The ruling TDP strongly rejected Jagan's claims, accusing him of presenting misleading figures and selectively comparing prices to create a false impression. In its response on X, the party asked whether he had forgotten the steep price increases during the previous YSRCP regime, when cooking oil allegedly touched Rs.200 per litre, onions Rs.170 per kg, green gram Rs.150 and chickpeas and groundnuts Rs.160 per kg. Tomato prices had also reached Rs.100 per kg, it claimed.

The TDP further accused the previous government of increasing property tax, garbage tax, electricity charges, RTC fares, petrol prices and ration-related costs. It attributed the present pressure on open-market prices partly to El Niño conditions, while maintaining that essential commodities were being supplied to poor households at subsidised rates through ration shops.

The ruling party said palm oil was being made available at Rs.125 per litre and wheat flour at Rs.25 per kg. It also claimed that the coalition government was prepared to bear a monthly burden of Rs.100 crore to keep essential commodity prices under control.

Highlighting its welfare measures, the TDP pointed to free bus travel for women, meals at Rs.5 through canteens and its claim that electricity charges had not been increased during the past two-and-a-half years and had instead been reduced. It also said the garbage tax imposed by the previous government had been abolished.

The TDP maintained that the coalition government was committed to supporting poor and middle-class families and accused Jagan of attempting to mislead people through selective statistics. The exchange has once again brought the issue of rising living costs and the competing claims of the two political parties into focus.