Andhra Pradesh has seen what happens when political rivalry becomes a personal battle. From the turbulent years of NT Rama Rao to the era of Chandrababu Naidu, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and YS Jaganmohan Reddy, the state’s political history has been shaped by fierce rivalries, changing loyalties and bitter fights for power. But there is a difference between fighting an opponent politically and turning the machinery of government against political rivals. That difference is at the heart of the latest controversy over local body elections.
Ranga and Paritala: A Violent Past Andhra Pradesh Must Not Repeat
The killings of Vangaveeti Mohana Ranga in 1988 and TDP leader Paritala Ravindra in 2005 remain among the most painful episodes in Andhra Pradesh’s political history. They belong to different periods and circumstances, but both became lasting symbols of the deadly consequences of political and factional rivalries. Their deaths should remind every political party that power, influence and party loyalty cannot justify violence. Andhra Pradesh has moved forward in many areas, but its political culture must move beyond the belief that defeating an opponent is not enough and that rivals must also be destroyed.
NTR built his political movement around Telugu self-respect. Chandrababu Naidu made development, technology and investment central to his agenda. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy built his political identity around welfare. Each leader offered a different vision of governance. Their successors should be judged by whether they advance those goals, not by how aggressively they target their opponents.
Jagan Cannot Erase His Own Record by Playing the Victim
YS Jaganmohan Reddy now accuses the TDP-led government of targeting the YSRCP during the local body election process. Such allegations must be examined on their evidence. But Jagan cannot expect the public to assess these complaints without remembering the criticism his own government faced over its treatment of political opponents. When the YSRCP was in power, the TDP repeatedly raised concerns about alleged harassment and politically motivated action against its leaders and workers. Now the political positions have changed, and the YSRCP is making similar complaints.
Jagan cannot demand accountability from Chandrababu Naidu while treating questions about his own administration as irrelevant. Opposition is not a licence to rewrite the past. If he wants his allegations to carry weight, he must also answer for the standards followed during his own tenure.
Local Body Elections Put the Focus on the Government:
The latest developments have brought the issue into sharp focus. Following Supreme Court directions to examine complaints that candidates were prevented from filing nominations, the Andhra Pradesh State Election Commission halted the election process across 100 urban local bodies on October 22, 2026. The issue now is whether eligible candidates received a fair opportunity to contest. Any genuine obstruction must be investigated and corrected. The government must ensure that the police and local administration act impartially, regardless of party affiliation.
Chandrababu Naidu should have no reason to allow avoidable controversies to overshadow his government’s work. The TDP-led coalition must protect the election process and respond to evidence rather than political noise. That is how a government establishes its credibility.
Naidu’s Challenge Is to Govern, Not Settle Scores:
Chandrababu Naidu has repeatedly placed development, investment and economic growth at the centre of his political agenda. Andhra Pradesh needs that focus now more than ever. The state requires new industries, employment, better infrastructure and stronger public services. Political confrontations consume time and attention that should be directed towards these priorities. The people did not elect a government merely to watch one party accuse another. They expect visible progress in their daily lives. The strongest answer to Jagan’s attacks is not a counterattack. It is a government that delivers on its promises, protects the rights of political opponents and ensures that the law applies equally to everyone.
Andhra Pradesh Needs a Future, Not Another Political Feud:
The state has spent decades watching political rivalries dominate public life. Ranga, Paritala, NTR, Chandrababu Naidu and the YSR political legacy belong to different chapters of that history, but the larger lesson remains relevant: political power must serve the people, not personal or party vendettas. Jagan must answer for his record instead of relying entirely on allegations against the present government. Naidu, in turn, must ensure that his administration does not give those allegations substance through any proven act of political interference. Andhra Pradesh does not need another chapter of revenge politics. It needs a government focused on development and an opposition prepared to answer for its own past. The real measure of leadership is not how effectively a rival is cornered, but how much the state and its people gain.
