CPI(M) accuses A.P. government of neglecting Vijayawada's development

Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) on Tuesday (September 8, 2026) accused the coalition government of neglecting Vijayawada's development and demanded that the city be developed alongside Amaravati. Addressing a meeting of Vijayawada Central constituency and city committee members and branch secretaries at the party office in Governorpet, CPM State secretariat member C.H. Babu Rao and State committee member D. Kashinath alleged that no major development initiative benefiting the city had been taken up by the government. They alleged that the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) had been pushed into a financial crisis, with hundreds of crores of rupees in contractors' bills remaining unpaid. As a result, they claimed, several works had been stalled, contractors had gone on strike, there was little response to tenders and some tendered works had been cancelled. The CPI(M) leaders claimed that while Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu had spoken of developing Vijayawada along with Amaravati, adequate funds had not been released to the city. They alleged that taxes collected in Vijayawada were not being released to the civic body on time and were being diverted by the State government. They accused the ruling coalition's elected representatives of failing to press for funds and development projects for the city, alleging that they were more concerned with their own interests than public welfare. The leaders also alleged that some political leaders were collecting unauthorised amounts ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹10 lakh from residents undertaking new building construction. They alleged harassment of citizens by both officials and political leaders and raised concerns over alleged encroachments on vacant land and misuse of houses meant for the poor. The meeting discussed complaints from local party workers and residents about rising prices, electricity charges and house-tax burdens. It also highlighted alleged deterioration in civic services, including contaminated drinking water, poor sanitation, mosquito menace, a dysfunctional drainage system and inadequate infrastructure. Mr. Babu Rao and Mr. Kashinath said ruling parties seeking votes in the forthcoming municipal elections should first explain why promises made during the Assembly elections had not been fulfilled. Claiming that Vijayawada had witnessed significant development during the 10 years when communists were in charge of the civic body, they said development had reached slums and hill areas without increasing taxes. The communists had also opposed measures that imposed burdens on people while in opposition, they claimed. Published- September 08, 2026 10:14 pm IST