Andhra minister Lokesh slams ex-CM Jagan of 'extravagant' expenditure as data shows Rs 222.85 crore spent on air travel

Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Nara Lokesh on Tuesday accused former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy of wasting public money through "massive residential construction and extensive air travel bills" during his tenure.

Lokesh alleged that nearly Rs 500 crore was spent on palatial structures and Rs 222 crore on chartered flights, PTI reported.

Data from Andhra Pradesh Aviation Corporation Ltd (APACL) revealed that Jagan Mohan Reddy spent Rs 87.02 crore on helicopters, Rs 112.50 crore on fixed-wing aircraft, and Rs 23.31 crore on boarding, crew handling, and lodging, all fully drawn from the state treasury, between 2019 and 2024.

This figure has reignited a fresh political war of words in Andhra Pradesh. Nara Lokesh criticised the previous YSRCP government for pushing Andhra Pradesh into financial distress.

"While people struggled for jobs and amenities, their (then) CM Jagan was splurging Rs 500 crore on a palace and Rs 222 crore on flying around. We're finally hearing the truth," said Lokesh in a post on 'X'.

The TDP leader alleged that the governance collapsed as money meant for welfare was channelled toward luxury-driven priorities and personal comforts during the previous YSRCP government between 2019 and 2024.

Reacting to Lokesh's allegations, the YSRCP alleged that the IT minister is propagating misinformation.

"At such a young age in politics, you have already mastered the art of becoming a con artist in spreading cooked up lies," the YSRCP said in a post on 'X'.

The controversy began when YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders accused Minister Nara Lokesh of frequently flying to Hyderabad and misusing public money. However, a recent RTI filed by Kodamala Suresh Babu revealed that none of the departments headed by Lokesh paid for the minister's travel expenses.

Lokesh, who holds Higher Education, Skill Development, Information Technology, and Real-Time Governance, had his department clarify through the RTI that the minister paid for his 77 Hyderabad trips from his own pocket, according to a report by PTI.

Denying the misuse of public money allegations made by the YSRCP, the ruling TDP called the opposition's claims "blatant lies" and hit back by releasing new figures about air travel expenses during Jagan Mohan Reddy's tenure as chief minister.