YSR Congress Party president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy accused Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of turning weather stress into a farm crisis in Andhra Pradesh, claiming farmers lost between fifteen thousand and over twenty thousand rupees an acre. During a video conference, he stated that rainfall from the start of kharif through mid-September was more than fifty percent below normal, leaving hundreds of mandals in drought conditions. He criticized the government for failing to declare drought mandals, arrange timely alternative seeds, fodder, and extra MGNREGA workdays, or provide free crop insurance.
Jagan also alleged that Srisailam water releases favored power generation over Rayalaseema needs, criticized silence on Telangana lift schemes near Pulichintala, and accused the State of compromising Polavaram’s full reservoir level. His demands include immediate drought declaration, loan rescheduling, restored free crop insurance, per-acre compensation, input subsidy, pending welfare dues, extra workdays, and tanker support for orchards.
Party leaders were instructed to tour affected districts, document local demands, and maintain pressure on the government while Jagan prepares personal visits to the worst-hit areas.