Wed Jun 25 03:07:08 UTC 2025: **News Article Summary:**
CPI(M) State Secretary V. Srinivasa Rao delivered a harsh critique of the NDA government’s first year, labeling it a “year of upside-down governance” that favors corporations at the expense of the common citizen. He accused the government of neglecting key welfare schemes, failing to ensure fair wages for farmers and workers, and imposing excessive financial burdens through electricity bills and taxes. Rao questioned the validity of claimed investments, criticized the promotion of GDP over sustainable development goals, and alleged irregularities in social welfare programs. He also addressed the issue of smart meters and called for clarification on ongoing legal cases.
**Rewritten as a News Article:**
**Andhra Pradesh: CPI(M) Slams NDA’s First Year as ‘Upside-Down Governance’**
**VIJAYAWADA, June 25, 2025** – The Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) launched a scathing attack on the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government’s first year in office, accusing it of prioritizing corporate interests over the well-being of ordinary citizens. V. Srinivasa Rao, CPI(M) State Secretary, addressed the media on Tuesday, calling the government’s performance a “year of upside-down governance” and a “double-burden government” that has failed to deliver on its promises.
Rao criticized the neglect of key welfare schemes and the failure to ensure minimum wages for workers and remunerative prices for farmers. He also highlighted the heavy financial burden imposed on the public through increased electricity bills, taxes, and administrative confusion. He raised concerns over a lack of transparency regarding ₹9.4 lakh crore in claimed investments, questioning the industries involved and the number of jobs created.
The CPI(M) leader also took aim at Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s economic policies, accusing him of promoting outdated models focused solely on GDP growth while ignoring the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He pointed out Andhra Pradesh’s relatively low ranking of 10th among states on SDG performance, arguing that true development is sustainable and inclusive, not merely reflected in GDP figures.
“Corporations are being favored at the cost of workers and the unorganised sector,” Rao stated, citing stagnant wages for 50 lakh workers and plummeting agricultural prices despite rising market rates. He specifically mentioned tobacco farmers being denied fair prices even as ITC shares surge.
Allegations of irregularities were also leveled against the ‘Thalliki Vandanam’ scheme, along with questions surrounding delays in delivering promises like Annadata Sukhibhava, unemployment allowance, and Stree Shakti funds. The issue of smart meters, leading to exorbitant electricity bills for the public, was also raised, with a call for clarification on the government’s stance regarding legal cases previously filed by its own ministers while in the opposition.
Rao concluded by criticizing inconsistencies between statements made at TDP’s Mahanadu and subsequent “good governance” meetings, painting a picture of a government riddled with contradictions. The CPI(M)’s strong criticism signals growing opposition to the NDA’s policies and sets the stage for increased political scrutiny in Andhra Pradesh.
First Piper 