Governor’s address disappointing, no major issue concerning State mentioned: CPI(M)

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Andhra Pradesh State Committee on Wednesday termed the Governor’s address to the joint sitting of the State Legislature disappointing and said it reflected a bleak vision for the future of Andhra Pradesh.

In a statement issued here, CPI(M) State secretary V. Srinivasa Rao said the speech failed to address several critical issues concerning the State. He pointed out that there was no mention of pending funds and statutory dues owed by the Centre to Andhra Pradesh, nor any reference to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, which he described as a symbol of pride for the people. The plight of families displaced by the Polavaram project was also ignored, he said.

Mr. Srinivasa Rao alleged that despite the Centre weakening federal principles by encroaching upon the rights of States, the State government had failed to raise its voice firmly. He further said the speech did not acknowledge the additional financial burdens imposed on people over the past 19 months, instances of forced land acquisition, unfulfilled promises and rising unemployment.

He noted the absence of any reference to tenant farmers, the Annadata Sukhibhava scheme and the long-pending Pay Revision Commission benefits for employees and pensioners. The government was also criticised for promoting privatisation in education and healthcare, which, he said, had pushed students’ futures into uncertainty. Allegations of growing political corruption were also raised.

The CPI(M) leader accused the coalition government of delivering less while promising more during its nearly two-year tenure. He said several of the widely publicised Super Six assurances remained unfulfilled, including the promise of ₹1,500 per month to women. While the speech highlighted employment generation for youth, he claimed that only a nominal number of jobs had been created, with no mention of job security or protection of workers’ rights.

The statement also flagged the lack of wage revision for Anganwadi and ASHA workers, absence of welfare fund measures for construction workers, and failure to provide special allocations or fulfil assurances made to Dalits, tribals, minorities and backward classes. It alleged that though golden families were identified under the P 4 initiative, assistance had not materialised.

The CPI(M) leader further described as hollow the claims relating to Amaravati construction, industrial growth, water resources, quantum technology and urban development. He alleged that although the government claimed to have reduced electricity tariffs by 13 paise, it had collected over ₹15,000 crore in additional power charges from consumers.

Despite claims of digital governance through blockchain and QR code technologies, farmers’ concerns over irregularities in land record registrations remained unaddressed, he said.

Grand declarations without implementation cannot bring development, Mr. Srinivasa Rao said, adding that the Governor’s address had left the people disappointed.