Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan has come down heavily on the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), targeting the construction of the controversial Rushikonda palace project. He alleged that the initiative was never meant to serve tourism or any genuine public purpose but was instead an outright misuse of public money for the personal benefit of those in power. According to him, the state government has attempted to disguise the project as part of a tourism development scheme, but in reality, its execution and intent expose a pattern of deception.
In his remarks, Pawan Kalyan questioned the government’s justification for labeling the building as a tourism-related project. He argued that if the motive had truly been to boost tourism, similar projects would have been developed across major regions such as Visakhapatnam, Uttara Andhra, Rayalaseema, and other districts. The fact that no such parallel developments were pursued, he insisted, reveals the deceptive nature of the claim. He stated that it was not merely a case of misrepresentation but a clear and undeniable misuse of resources. To him, the government’s stance holds no ground, and the truth of the situation is evident without any scope for defense.
Drawing attention to the financial irregularities, the Deputy Chief Minister reminded that a previously existing tourism building, which had generated revenue of around seven crores, was demolished to make way for this new project. He pointed out that the plan initially sanctioned the construction of seven blocks at a cost of ₹164 crores to be executed in two phases. However, only four blocks were actually built, and the expenditure had already crossed ₹354 crores. Extrapolating further, he argued that if the remaining three blocks had been completed, the cost could have easily escalated to over ₹660 crores. He accused the ruling party of indulging in extravagant spending for personal luxury while presenting it to the public under the false pretext of development.
Pawan Kalyan clarified that, as the Jana Sena Party and part of the government-in-waiting, they were compelled to take a principled stand on this matter. While he avoided delving deeper into controversial details at the moment, he emphasized that it was their responsibility to highlight issues of corruption and wasteful expenditure, ensuring accountability to the people of Andhra Pradesh.
In response, YSRCP leader Konda Rajeev dismissed the Deputy Chief Minister’s accusations as nothing more than a deliberate attempt to divert public attention. He claimed that Pawan Kalyan was yet to answer uncomfortable questions regarding the mysterious death of Dalit girl Sugali Preethi in 2017. According to Rajeev, the Deputy CM’s focus on the Rushikonda project was a way of steering the conversation away from issues he has avoided addressing. At the same time, Rajeev pointed out a contradiction in Pawan Kalyan’s statements, saying that while in opposition, he had repeatedly called the Rushikonda building “Jagan’s palace,” but now he himself admits that the construction is indeed government-owned. For Rajeev, this shift at least signals that Pawan Kalyan has finally acknowledged the truth, even if his accusations remain politically motivated.
