The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has leveled serious allegations against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, accusing him of taking undue credit for the construction of the Bhogapuram airport. State coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy asserted that during the YSRCP’s governance from 2019 to 2024, approximately **80%** of the project’s physical progress was achieved, contrasting it with the **20%** completed after the TDP-BJP-JSP alliance assumed power.
During a media briefing at the YSRCP central office on Saturday, Ramakrishna Reddy criticized Naidu for not acknowledging this reality. He claimed that Naidu has repeatedly appropriated the achievements of his predecessors, stating, “It is his habit to take credit for the accomplishments of others.” He further accused Naidu, Deputy CM K. Pawan Kalyan, and other political figures of falsely attributing various statements regarding the airport project to the current Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, which he described as part of a political strategy.
Ramkrishna Reddy highlighted the unrest among farmers, who protested against the acquisition of thousands of acres of land for the airport, alleging that their dissent had been muted. He pointed out that while Naidu organized the Bhoomi Puja for the airport shortly before the **2019 elections**, the bulk of the project’s execution was carried out by the YSRCP administration.
The YSRCP leader emphasized that although Jagan Mohan Reddy could have inaugurated the airport promptly, he chose not to do so. “The significant advancements in the airport’s development, including obtaining central clearances and completing land acquisition, were during the YSRCP’s term. The project’s works commenced in **2023**, with **80%** completed ahead of the **2024 elections**,” he stated. He added that the airport could have become operational in **2020-21** if not for the disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
