In a significant political development, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has launched an offensive against the ruling coalition government in Andhra Pradesh over land reforms. The move comes as the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-BJP alliance pushes forward with its own approach to land governance, sparking a fresh debate over the issue.
At the heart of the controversy is the repeal of the Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Act, which was enacted during the tenure of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and subsequently scrapped by the current government led by Nara Chandrababu Naidu upon taking office. The YSRCP alleges that the decision to repeal the law was primarily motivated by politics rather than policy concerns.
According to senior YSRCP leader Dharmana Prasada Rao, the party has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi requesting his intervention in the matter. The letter emphasizes that the repeal of the Act could potentially undermine foreign investment prospects and hinder national initiatives such as Make in India and Viksit Bharat.
The YSRCP maintains that a transparent land titling system is crucial for fostering economic growth and ensuring legal certainty. Furthermore, they view this issue as an opportunity to highlight disagreements within the coalition government and put pressure on its partners.
As land reforms have once again become a contentious political topic in Andhra Pradesh, the debate is expected to dominate discussions in the state. Whether or not the Centre responds to the YSRCP’s appeal, or if the state government holds firm on its stance, remains uncertain. However, it is clear that the battle over land laws is far from settled.
