TDP Vows to Block Privatisation of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant, Nara Lokesh Criticizes YSRCP Leadership

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has firmly opposed the privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP), according to IT Minister and the party’s national general secretary, Nara Lokesh. Speaking on Wednesday at the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) meeting, Lokesh reiterated that TDP’s Andhra Pradesh president, Palla Srinivasa, has pledged to prevent VSP's privatisation, even going as far as saying he would resign if he fails to do so.

Lokesh accused the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) of misleading the public by claiming that the state government supports the privatisation of VSP. He pointed out that Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has made it clear that privatisation of the steel plant will not be permitted.

Addressing another controversy surrounding the Tirupati laddu prasadam, Lokesh mentioned that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to conduct an impartial inquiry into the issue. He responded to YSRCP's demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry by reminding that all inquiries during the YSRCP regime were handled by the Andhra Pradesh Crime Investigation Department (AP-CID).

When questioned about investments in the state, Lokesh disclosed that talks were ongoing with several major software companies interested in coming to Visakhapatnam but refrained from sharing specific details at this stage.

Lokesh also touched on the recent floods in Vijayawada, blaming YSRCP’s reverse tendering process for causing breaches in the Budameru rivulet, which led to the disaster. He recalled that former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu had previously invited the LuLu Group to develop a mall and convention center on Visakhapatnam’s Beach Road, but the project was stalled due to reverse tendering.

Lastly, Lokesh expressed concerns that investors remain hesitant to invest in Andhra Pradesh due to uncertainty about future governance under YSRCP, which may return to power in five years.