The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has accused former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of spending a staggering Rs 500 crore ($59.9 million) on the lavish Rushikonda Palace.
Toilets worth $14K
Speaking to news agency ANI, TDP spokesperson Kommareddy Pattabhi Ram said people were in a state of disbelief after seeing the extravagant interiors of the palace.
"People couldn't believe that Jagan Reddy had spent Rs 500 crores on creating his own luxuries. Look at the bathtubs, which cost more than Rs 40 lakh ($47,941) commodes cost more than Rs 10-12 lakh ($11,985-$14,382)… The kind of luxurious furniture that are placed inside… The people are in shock after looking at these visuals," said Pattabhi.
He highlighted the stark contrast between the palace's opulence and the modest homes being built for BPL families under a government initiative led by Reddy.
"The houses for BPL families being built by the government, which was initiated by Jagan Reddy, are much smaller than the toilet in Rushikonda," he said.
Pattabhi questioned the former chief minister's justification for such lavish spending.
"So Jagan Reddy, you have to answer about this lavish spending. All this job of creating a luxurious interior was given to a woman named Supriya Reddy, who happens to be the wife of his close confidant, an IT advisor, Devreddy Srinath Reddy."
He criticised the Andhra government's financial management, noting that every week, the government has to go to the RBI to raise loans.
"In such kind of a scenario, how can you spend Rs 500 crore on your palace? You have not spent money on projects like Amravati… These are the projects that are required by the people. Instead of spending money on those projects, you have wasted money on your own palace," he alleged.
Pattabhi assured that an inquiry will be launched into the spending.
On its official X handle, the TDP further criticised Jagan Mohan Reddy, stating, "Rushikonda Palace incident alone is enough to know how much good people have done to the state by defeating Jagan. Look at how much effort he had to occupy a hill in Visakha and build a palace with Rs 500 crores of public money!"
YSRCP defends Reddy
In response to the allegation, YSRCP (Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party) spokesperson Ravi Chandra Reddy defended the construction, asserting that the building is meant for government purposes.
"We constructed that building (Rushikonda Palace) in the true spirit to rule from Vizag and that buildings should be used for only government purposes. Those buildings belong to the government of Andhra Pradesh and not Jagan Mohan Reddy or YSRCP."
"Those buildings are constructed with beautiful architecture for the government of Andhra Pradesh so it can be used when the President or Prime Minister comes as good buildings are not available in Vizag," he told ANI.
Ravi Chandra Reddy accused the TDP of playing politics. "You are playing politics now. It is high time to deliver to people what you committed to people in your manifesto. But in spite of that, you people are playing politics… You are diverting people’s attention," he said.
(With inputs from agencies)