YSRCP rejects allegations of links with Adani

Andhra Pradesh: Former minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy defended the power purchase policies of the YSR Congress party (YSRCP) government, claiming that the coalition government and its “friendly media” have “falsely projected” that the previous YS Jagan Mohan Reddy government had dealt with the Adani Group and only with the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI).

Speaking to the media here on Monday, he said that the deal was limited to SECI and that the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy administration had only paid Rs 2.49 per unit for the electricity, while Chandrababu Naidu had paid Rs 4.5 or more for power during his tenure.

“During 2014-19, the average price of power purchased was Rs 5.10 but we bought it for Rs 2.49 yet TDP and its friendly media have been levelling false allegations against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy,” he said.

In order to help the farmers and fulfill the promise of giving them free electricity for nine hours throughout the day to raise their level of life, a purchase deal was formed with SECI, a Central Government agency. According to him, the proper processes were followed and the decision was not made hastily.

SECI wrote a letter on electricity supply on September 15, 2021. The cabinet reviewed the letter, discussed it with an expert group, and then approved it. He said that the TDP had bought electricity at a far higher price, up to Rs 6.99 per unit, and that it was not done in a rush as Chandrababu Naidu and his benevolent media had claimed.

The farmers benefited from the arrangement with SECI, which was made in an open and honest way. Chandrababu Naidu claimed to have signed 35 PPAs and paid more above Rs 6 per unit in 2014 and 2016, compared to 11 PPAs prior to 2014.

According to him, interstate transmission expenses are included in the tariff of Rs 2.49, but the claim that Gujarat is purchasing electricity at a lower cost is not because transmission loss is not taken into account.

He added that Balineni Srinivas Reddy, the previous electricity minister of Andhra Pradesh, was unfair to say what he did. “He (Balineni) was a minister before, so he is aware of the strain officials and members would be under during cabinet sessions. Since it is an e-file, the problem of requesting signatures at midnight does not come up, and it does not seem good if such matters are being brought up at the request of others.

According to him, YS Jagan Moan Reddy has often complied with the cabinet minister’s requests, placed the matter on the agenda, and had discussions on it.

For a long time, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), together with other political parties and its media, has been smearing YA Jagan Mohan Reddy with false accusations and claims of corruption that have cost thousands of dollars and have dramatically decreased his reputation. However, he said that nothing was proven.