Amaravati | November 13, 2025 – In a sharp political attack ahead of ongoing welfare initiatives in Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Thursday accused the state’s current Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu of engaging in “credit chori” – a term used in local parlance to allege the theft of recognition or ownership of someone else’s work. Reddy claimed that Naidu was taking credit for housing projects launched and largely executed during the YSRCP government’s tenure between 2019 and 2024.

In a statement issued from Amaravati, Reddy said the allegations were prompted by Naidu’s recent inauguration of three lakh welfare houses across the state from Rayachoti mandal in Annamayya district on Wednesday, which he argued were projects initiated by the YSRCP government.

“Naidu is indulging in outright ‘credit chori’ by claiming ownership of housing works that were initiated, sanctioned, and largely executed during our government between 2019 and 2024,” Reddy said. He added that in the past 18 months, the TDP-led administration had neither acquired a single square yard of land for the poor nor sanctioned a new housing site, highlighting what he described as a lack of proactive welfare measures under the present regime.

Housing Work and Completion Status

Reddy provided a detailed account of the progress made by his government before it left office. According to him, at the time the YSRCP demitted office:

• 1.4 lakh houses were in the finishing stage,
• 87,380 houses had reached the slab level, and
• 66,845 houses were under construction.

He emphasized that these figures demonstrate substantial groundwork laid by the YSRCP, which he argued Naidu was now attempting to claim as his own achievement.

Reddy recalled a landmark event held on October 12, 2023, when the YSRCP government conducted a massive housewarming ceremony for over 7.4 lakh welfare houses in a single day, calling it a “historic milestone” in the state’s welfare delivery. According to him, the YSRCP had:

• Issued 31.1 lakh house-site pattas to poor women across 71,800 acres,
• Sanctioned 21.75 lakh houses, and
• Completed over nine lakh houses, despite challenges posed by the Covid-induced pandemic.

These figures, Reddy argued, were proof of the previous government’s commitment to improving housing access for marginalized communities.

Allegations Against Current Administration

YSRCP’s chief accused the current TDP-led NDA government of attempting to “lock up” plots meant for the poor and of using partisan media to mislead citizens by presenting YSRCP’s work as their own. “A person who steals others’ hard work is not a leader but a playwright,” Reddy stated, condemning Naidu’s actions as a “disgraceful attempt to turn others’ labour into his own glory.”

Reddy’s statement underscores a growing political tension in Andhra Pradesh, particularly regarding welfare schemes and public perception of governance. Housing projects, often seen as flagship welfare initiatives, have become a point of contention between the YSRCP and TDP, with both parties seeking to project themselves as the primary force behind citizen-centric development.

Context and Political Implications

The accusation comes at a time when welfare programs, particularly in the housing sector, remain a major political and electoral narrative in Andhra Pradesh. Welfare delivery, including housing for the poor, land allotment, and the issuance of pattas, has historically been a key metric for political success and public trust in the state.

Jagan Mohan Reddy’s attack on Naidu also reflects continuing rivalry between the two major parties. By claiming that Naidu is taking undue credit, the YSRCP aims to assert that the benefits of previous policies should be attributed to its governance, potentially influencing public perception and bolstering its political capital.

While the allegations are severe, there was no immediate response from the ruling TDP as of Thursday evening. Analysts note that the party is likely to defend its position, pointing to the ceremonial role of Naidu’s inauguration as part of ongoing welfare implementation and continuity of state projects.

Public Perception and Media Coverage

The dispute over housing projects is expected to receive wide media attention, with both parties leveraging their narratives through press releases, media interviews, and social platforms. For the public, the focus remains on tangible welfare outcomes: availability of completed houses, distribution of pattas, and the speed of ongoing construction.

As the housing sector in Andhra Pradesh continues to expand, such political exchanges highlight the intersection of governance, political messaging, and electoral strategy, underscoring the importance of public perception in shaping political narratives.

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