Tue Sep 23 15:08:15 UTC 2025: **Summary:**

Andhra Pradesh Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to preventing the privatization of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, emphasizing its importance to the state. He credited the TDP-BJP alliance for past efforts to protect the plant and highlighted recent central government investment for its revival. Lokesh also touted the TDP government’s successful industrial policies, which attracted major investments and boosted job creation. He criticized the previous YSR Congress Party’s economic policies for deterring investment and emphasized the current government’s efforts to attract new businesses and create employment opportunities, particularly in the IT sector. Additionally, he highlighted the TDP’s efforts to recruit teachers through the DSC process.

**News Article:**

**Vizag Steel Plant Safe, Andhra Pradesh Sees Investment Boom Under TDP Rule, Minister Lokesh Declares**

**Vijayawada, September 23, 2025** – Andhra Pradesh’s Education and IT Minister Nara Lokesh today reassured the public that the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant will remain in the public sector, emphasizing the government’s commitment to preventing its privatization. Speaking in the Legislative Council, Minister Lokesh stated, “Visakhapatnam Steel is Andhra Pradesh’s asset and will remain in the public sector. TDP-BJP and Jana Sena Party are committed to this promise.”

He highlighted past efforts by the TDP-BJP alliance to allocate funds and prevent privatization and applauded the central government’s recent allocation of ₹11,500 crore for the plant’s revival. “Under the double-engine government — with Prime Minister Modi at the Centre and Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu in Andhra Pradesh — we saved it,” he declared.

Beyond the steel plant, Lokesh painted a picture of burgeoning industrial growth under the TDP government. He emphasized the government’s successful industrial and investment policies, citing Kia Motors’ positive impact on Anantapur and attracting companies like TCL, HCL, Dixon, Apollo Tyres, and PepsiCo. He contrasted this with what he termed the “economic terrorism” of the previous YSR Congress Party government, blaming policies like the cancellation of power purchase agreements and harassment of industries for economic setbacks.

Since 2024, Andhra Pradesh has reportedly signed 340 Memorandums of Understanding worth ₹10.4 lakh crore, attracting major projects from companies such as ArcelorMittal, Google, Tata, Cognizant, Reliance, and Lulu. Minister Lokesh particularly emphasized the government’s focus on job creation, citing Cognizant’s commitment to 25,000 IT jobs and Reliance’s Prakasam project’s potential to create 2.5 lakh jobs. The government aims to create five lakh IT jobs in Visakhapatnam.

Finally, Minister Lokesh addressed the recruitment of teachers, stating that 90% of teachers in Andhra Pradesh were recruited under TDP through DSC. He highlighted the Mega DSC recruitment process, which filled 16,000 teacher posts, despite legal challenges.

The statements signify a push by the TDP government to demonstrate economic progress and secure its position in the state.

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