Vijayawada neglected while Amaravati gets focus, CPI(M) alleges
CPI(M) leaders accused Andhra Pradesh's coalition government of neglecting Vijayawada's development, citing unpaid bills, stalled works, and diverted tax revenues.
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) has accused the Andhra Pradesh coalition government of sidelining Vijayawada's development, demanding that the city receive the same priority as the proposed capital, Amaravati.
Speaking at a party meeting in Governorpet on Tuesday, CPI(M) State secretariat member C.H. Babu Rao and State committee member D. Kashinath alleged that no significant development initiative has been undertaken for the city under the current administration.
The leaders claimed the Vijayawada Municipal Corporation (VMC) is facing a severe financial crunch, with contractor bills running into hundreds of crores remaining unpaid. This has stalled numerous projects, prompted contractor strikes, and led to poor tender responses, with some tendered works being cancelled outright.
They further alleged that while Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu has spoken about developing Vijayawada alongside Amaravati, adequate funds have not been released. Taxes collected within the city, they said, are not being transferred to the civic body on time and are instead being diverted by the State government.
The CPI(M) leaders also criticised ruling coalition representatives from the city for not pressing for funds or projects, accusing them of prioritising personal interests over public welfare. They alleged that some political leaders are collecting unauthorised sums ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹10 lakh from residents for new building constructions, and raised concerns about harassment by officials and encroachments on vacant land and housing meant for the poor.
Local party workers and residents raised issues at the meeting regarding rising prices, electricity charges, and house tax burdens. Deteriorating civic services were also highlighted, including contaminated drinking water, poor sanitation, mosquito infestations, and a dysfunctional drainage system.
Mr. Babu Rao and Mr. Kashinath asserted that ruling parties seeking votes in the upcoming municipal elections must first explain their failure to fulfil promises made during the Assembly elections. They claimed that during the decade when communists led the civic body, Vijayawada saw significant development, including in slums and hill areas, without increasing taxes.