In Vijayawada, the joint session of the Andhra Pradesh State Legislative Assembly and Council commenced with Governor S Abdul Nazeer delivering a 30-minute address on Monday. During his speech, the Governor highlighted the early achievements of the new government in fulfilling its pre-election promises, including initiatives like the Mega DSC for teacher vacancies, abolition of the Land Titling Act, and enhancements in social security pensions.
Governor Nazeer praised the visionary leadership of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and acknowledged the efforts of the NDA government from 2014 to 2019 in developing Andhra Pradesh post-bifurcation. He contrasted this with what he termed as a "debacle" under the previous YSRC regime, criticizing it for engaging in what he described as vendetta politics and hindering the state's progress.
Shortly after the Governor began his address, YSRC MLAs and MLCs, led by YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, protested by entering the Well of the House and raising slogans against alleged attacks on YSRC activists. Despite the Governor continuing his speech, the YSRC members continued their protest before eventually walking out of the House.
Reflecting on the state's journey since bifurcation in 2014, Governor Nazeer acknowledged the challenges faced but emphasized the NDA government's efforts in transforming crises into opportunities. He cited achievements such as the completion of the Pattiseema project and significant progress on the Polavaram project, among others.
The Governor criticized the period under the YSRC government from 2019 to 2024, labeling it as more damaging than the bifurcation itself. He highlighted concerns over democracy, public fear, and economic stagnation, attributing these issues to what he characterized as misrule and lack of transparency during that period.
Governor Nazeer also condemned the previous regime's handling of Amaravati and its capital plans, accusing it of undermining development initiatives and causing economic setbacks. He mentioned the government's efforts to bring transparency through white papers on various sectors, revealing discrepancies in fund utilization and financial management.
The Governor concluded by mentioning the state government's plans to introduce an interim budget for three months from August and a full budget in October, pending meaningful discussions.
Overall, his address underscored a stark contrast in governance styles and priorities between the previous YSRC administration and the current TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh.