The Chandrababu Naidu government holds 164 of the 175 seats in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly. Naidu, now in his fourth term as Chief Minister, enjoys an unmatched majority and faces virtually no Opposition in the state.
With such dominance, one would expect firm control over party leaders. Yet, recent incidents suggest otherwise. Tiruvur MLA Kolikapudi Srinivasa Rao has become the centre of several controversies that reflect poorly on the leadership’s discipline.
Kolikapudi gained prominence for supporting Amaravati farmers when Jagan Mohan Reddy tried to shift the capital. Recognising his efforts, Naidu gave him the Tiruvur SC Reserved seat, which he won during the TDP+ wave. But his actions since then have created repeated uproars.
In October 2024, he compared farmers to “disloyal dogs,” sparking protests and calls for suspension. Soon after, women employees accused him of sexual harassment through WhatsApp messages, leading to formal complaints to the Chief Minister.
By January 2025, a local family dispute turned into a public fight after his interference, forcing Naidu to warn him personally. In March, TDP cadres in Tiruvur protested against his “objectionable behaviour,” accusing him of illegal mining with YSR Congress leaders.
Recently, he alleged that Vijayawada MP Kesineni Sivanath demanded ₹5 crore for his 2024 ticket, triggering yet another storm.
Naidu’s silence so far has hurt the party’s image in Tiruvur and across the state. It is time for firm action, even if that means suspending Kolikapudi from the party. The latest charge also deserves investigation, and if proven, Kesineni Chinni must face consequences too.
When a leader with such a massive mandate fails to act decisively, it sends the wrong message to the public about the party’s integrity and discipline.
