YSRCP, TDP-led alliance cross swords over new land Act

Vijayawada: The canvassing for the May 13 simultaneous elections to Assembly and Lok Sabha in Andhra Pradesh is hotting up with the ruling YSR Congress Party and its main challenger TDP-BJP-Jana Sena Party alliance deciding to cross swords over the controversial AP Land Titling Act (APLTA).

The legislation which became a law in October 2023, aims to improve the system of deed registration relating to immovable properties. It introduced a new title registration system for all properties after a Statewide comprehensive survey by using latest technologies like drone cameras with an intention to increase value of the land market so as to serve as a conclusive record for titles through digitisation of records.

The YSRCP Government also tom-tomed it as a revolutionary initiative to prevent land grabbing by taking up resurvey in 15,000 panchayats across the State.

Scoffing at criticism, Revenue Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao said the law will be enforced after a national consensus and blamed the TDP and its allies for spreading falsehood on the legislation to gain political mileage. He said the enactment of the legislation can be done only after obtaining national consensus and approval from the Government of India.

Describing it as Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Land Grabbing Act in connivance with the land sharks, JSP president and film star Pawan Kalyan said by misusing the provisions in the Act, the YSRCP is planning to snatch away properties of the general public. He said they will abolish the Act if the three-party alliance is given a mandate to govern the State for five years.

Going hammer and tongs against TDP president Chandrababu Naidu and his allies for launching falsehoods on APLTA, Jagan Mohan Reddy during his campaign trail tried to harp on the point that the people should not to be carried away by the ‘distorted’ propaganda of the Opposition. The Chief Minister assured people that the Act would only reinforce the people’s rights on their lands and not take away them as claimed by the TDP and its allies. “Jagan is known for giving and not for taking away anything from anyone,” he told a largely attended meeting at Payakaraopeta in Anakapalle district.

Slamming Naidu and his friendly media for spreading malicious propaganda on the Act, the Chief Minister stressed that people are not ready to buy their misinformation campaign. “People are aware of the gimmicks of the TDP chief and are not ready to be taken for a ride once again by his tantrums,” he said, adding that casting a vote for TDP is nothing short of putting your head into a python’s mouth. He further asked people to be wary of the evil designs of Naidu who knows how to fly with lies and deceitfulness.

In a bid to score a point politically, Naidu at an election meeting at Chirala in Bapatla district, Naidu declared that soon after he is back in power in these elections his second signature will be on revoking the APLTA. Alleging that cheap liquor with ‘J-brands’ and encouragement to sand and other mafias, the exchequer is being looted under the present regime. Earlier, he had promised to sign the first file on continuation of volunteer system and doubling of honorarium for all of them.