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Jagan's Lavish Spending: Rs 500 Cr Palace and Rs 222 Cr Flights Amid Public Struggles

Andhra Pradesh Minister Nara Lokesh has launched a sharp attack on former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy. He accuses Jagan of spending a staggering Rs 500 crore on a palace and another Rs 222 crore on air travel while in office. The allegations are based on RTI data showing detailed breakdowns of flight costs over five years. Meanwhile, the TDP highlights that Lokesh used his own money for official tours, drawing a direct contrast in governance styles.

Key Points: Lokesh Alleges Jagan Spent Rs 500 Cr on Palace, Rs 222 Cr on Flights

  • Lokesh alleges Jagan spent Rs 500 crore on a personal palace during his tenure as CM
  • RTI data reveals Rs 222 crore spent on Jagan's air travel over five years
  • TDP claims Lokesh used personal funds for official tours, taking no state money
  • The annual air travel costs peaked at over Rs 50 crore in the 2023-24 fiscal year
3 min read

Jagan splurged Rs 500 crore on palace, Rs 222 crore on flying around: Lokesh

Andhra Minister Nara Lokesh accuses ex-CM Jagan Mohan Reddy of splurging Rs 722 crore on a palace and air travel while people lacked jobs and amenities.

"While people struggled for jobs and amenities, their CM was splurging Rs 500 cr on a palace and Rs 222 cr on flying around. - Nara Lokesh"

Amaravati, Dec 2 (ANS) Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh on Tuesday alleged that Y. S.

Jagan Mohan Reddy splurged Rs 500 crore on a palace and Rs 222 crore on flying around during his tenure as the Chief Minister. "While people struggled for jobs and amenities, their CM was splurging Rs 500 cr on a palace and Rs 222 cr on flying around. We're finally hearing the truth," the minister for education, information technology and electronics wrote on X.

"AP deserved a vision - they got a vacation instead," added Lokesh, who is the son of Chief Minister and Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Lokesh was reacting to a report that Jagan spent Rs 222 crore on air travel in five years as the Chief Minister between 2019 and 2024.

The TDP on its official X handle highlighted how Jagan spent Rs 222 crore of public money on his flights while Lokesh did not take a single rupee from the treasury for his tours.

"In 18 months as a minister, Nara Lokesh did not take even a single rupee from the government for helicopters/special flights used for his tours. In 60 months as Chief Minister, Jagan spent Rs 222 crore from the government treasury for helicopters/special flights used for his tours," posted the TDP.

According to replies to applications filed by an activist under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, Lokesh used his own money to finance his 77 flights to Hyderabad.

The TDP termed as 'blatant lies' the claims that Lokesh travelled to Hyderabad 77 times by a special aircraft during the last 18 months.

"None of these are personal trips, yet Minister Nara Lokesh funded these tours from his own pocket," the TDP said in a post on X last week.

"It has been revealed through an application filed by an RTI activist that Minister Nara Lokesh has not taken even a single rupee from the Human Resources, IT, Electronics, and Real Time Governance departments, which he manages, for these tours," it added.

The TDP also posted replies from the departments concerned to RTI queries by activist Kodamala Suresh Babu of Guntur district.

The TDP also hit back at YSRCP by highlighting how Jagan spent Rs 222 crore on his air travel.

According to Andhra Pradesh Aviation Corporation Ltd (APACL), the government spent Rs 222.85 crore on air travel between 2019 and 2024. The annual breakup includes Rs 31.43 crore in 2019-20, Rs 44 crore in 2020-21, Rs 49.45 crore in 2021-22, Rs 47.18 crore in 2022-23, and Rs 50.81 crore in 2023-24.

The data further reveals Rs 112.50 crore spent on fixed-wing aircraft, Rs 87.02 crore on helicopter charges, and Rs 23.31 crore on operational costs like crew and handling.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

S
Sarah B
While the figures are staggering, we must remember this is a political allegation from the opposition. The RTI data on travel costs seems solid, but the "palace" claim needs independent verification. Let's not jump to conclusions without full context.
P
Priya S
As a taxpayer from Vizag, this makes me so angry. ₹222 crore on flights? During a pandemic and economic struggle? Our hard-earned money wasted. 😠 Lokesh funding his own tours sets a good example, but why is this not the standard for all?
V
Vikram M
Typical political blame game before elections. TDP is no saint either. Remember the insider trading allegations? The entire system needs an overhaul. We need leaders who work for the people, not for their parties and families.
A
Aditya G
The RTI data doesn't lie. Over ₹50 crore per year just for the CM's air travel is excessive. A chief minister needs to travel, but this scale is indefensible. Hope this leads to stricter norms for all public servants.
N
Nisha Z
"AP deserved a vision - they got a vacation instead." That line hits hard. So true. We voted for progress and got personal extravagance. Time for real change. 🙏

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