HRD Minister Nara Lokesh on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on the YSRCP, accusing it of spreading misinformation on teacher recruitment, voter enrolment, and the State government's welfare initiatives.

Addressing a press conference in Mangalagiri after participating in the development programmes alongside Union Minister of State for Rural Development and Communications Pemmasani Chandra Sekhar, the Minister defended the government’s handling of the District Selection Committee (DSC) recruitment process and challenged YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to a public debate on the issue.

Stating that the government had filled 16,000 teacher posts in 150 days, Mr. Lokesh said the recruitment process was conducted transparently and in accordance with the horizontal and vertical reservation norms. He alleged that the YSRCP leaders had filed multiple court cases against the DSC process, while simultaneously accusing the government of delaying recruitment.

Rejecting allegations of voter manipulation, Mr. Lokesh said the coalition government had no need to remove any votes, and maintained that voter registration was being carried out transparently using publicly available data.

‘Bad culture’

The Minister also criticised remarks made by YSRCP leader Gudivada Amarnath against Home Minister Vangalapudi Anitha, asserting that the opposition party had been insulting women and its president was encouraging this bad culture.

He wondered how would Mr. Jagan feel if the TDP leaders also insult women in his house and party. At the same time, Mr. Lokesh said the TDP government had taken action even against its own supporters for objectionable comments on women.

Referring to the previous YSRCP government, Mr. Lokesh accused it of neglecting industrial growth and Amaravati's development. He said the present government was focusing on infrastructure projects, including the Nidamarru railway overbridge and an underground drainage network in Mangalagiri, which he pledged to monitor personally.

Mr. Lokesh said the government’s objective was to transform Mangalagiri into a model constituency through sustained investment in civic infrastructure and public services.