Use of govt furniture at Jagan’s bungalow office kicks up row

Vijayawada: A social media war over the alleged failure to return furniture bought by the erstwhile YSRCP Government at the former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's Tadepalli camp office has kicked up a row in Andhra Pradesh.

The latest controversy broke out after YSRPC issued a press note on a review meeting held with party leaders after the elections over their debacle along with a picture of the meeting held at the Tadepalli bungalow. The Government of AP insignia formed the backdrop of the photograph.

On their respective X (formerly Twitter) handles, Telugu Desam Party which returned to power in alliance with BJP and JSP with a brute majority in the recently held elections and YSRCP are indulging in a war of words, forcing many to watch the developments with wry amusement.

Some even compare this with the harassment meted out to former Speaker and TDP leader Kodela Siva Prasada Rao when he allegedly used government furniture bought for his chambers in his party office and son-in-law's business establishment without returning it to the government after losing the post and power in 2019.

The former Speaker committed suicide after the YSRCP Government registered a theft case against him.

Now TDP leaders are posting on social media addressing former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is said to have spent crores of rupees for furnishing his own building, very often described by TDP supremo and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu as the 'Tadepalli palace'. Jagan used to hold most of the official meetings at the camp office preferring the 'work from home' model. However, in a departure from this, Naidu after assuming power, said he along with his Ministerial colleagues would function most of the time from their respective chambers in the Secretariat at Velagapudi. Some netizens have also asked the AP Government to file a furniture theft case against Jagan. YSRCP, however, stoutly denied the charge. Party MLC Lella Appi Reddy pointed out that they had already written a letter to the officials concerned that after valuation of furniture, they were ready to pay the amount and retain them.

"We are waiting for the government's response," he said in a statement released by the YSRCP. He said TDP has made it a point to indulge in vilification campaigns against Jagan and YSRCP by spreading falsehood. "Now it is pursuing vendetta politics," he remarked. In a posting on X, TDP State president and Agriculture Minister Kinjarapu Atchannaidu said: "The furniture in the camp office belongs to the government or Jagan? Shouldn't it be returned to the government after leaving office. Otherwise, their furniture is considered a thief. What is called #FurnitureDongaJagan #Andhra Pradesh."