The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) has termed the YSRCP protests against the recent hike in petrol and diesel prices as a “political drama.”

During its term, the YSRCP had burdened people with heavy fuel taxes, TDP Sarvepalli MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy told the media at the party central office on Tuesday.

The prices of petrol and diesel in Andhra Pradesh were the highest when Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was the Chief Minister as his government had imposed road cess and Value Added Tax (VAT), recalled the TDP leader.

The Central government had recently increased fuel prices by ₹3, and the YSRCP had no moral right to stage protests after imposing far higher burden on consumers during its term, he said.

During the YSRCP government’s term, the per-litre price of petrol in Vijayawada and Visakhapatnam crossed ₹111, while it was available for ₹101 in the neighbouring Karnataka, Mr. Chandramohan Reddy said.

“I used to get my vehicle filled in Karnataka before entering Andhra Pradesh to save money,” he said, adding that diesel prices in Andhra Pradesh were also significantly higher compared to the neighbouring States during the YSRCP government’s term.

The TDP-led NDA government headed by N. Chandrababu Naidu had not increased fuel taxes in the State in the last two years, Mr. Chandramohan Reddy asserted.

He also launched a sharp attack on the previous government’s liquor policy, alleging that the “Jagananna Tax” had inflated liquor prices and restricted consumer choice. He accused the YSRCP government of promoting low-quality liquor, due to which thousands of people suffered health complications.

Stating that the YSRCP’s recent protests had failed to attract public support, he said the demonstrations witnessed poor turnout across districts and reflected growing public dissatisfaction with the opposition party.