Andhra minister denies YSRCP plot to divide state cabinet

Andhra Pradesh Municipal Administration Minister Ponguru Narayana has accused the YSR Congress Party of attempting to create a rift between him and Endowments Minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy. Narayana said the opposition party was using an incident connected with the inauguration of a renovated VRC High School in Nellore as a pretext for its allegation. During the school building’s inauguration in July 2025, Reddy had opposed renaming Venkatagiri Raja Municipal Corporation High School as VRC High School.

In the presence of State IT and Education Minister Nara Lokesh, he had demanded restoration of the original name. Speaking to reporters in Nellore on Thursday, Narayana said he had already discussed the matter with Reddy and that they maintained an excellent relationship. He said efforts by YSRCP leaders to provoke conflict between them would not succeed.

Narayana said he would respond to the opposition through development and welfare initiatives rather than controversy. He also criticised the YSRCP over its comments about tree-planting initiatives funded through corporate social responsibility programmes. The minister visited government schools in Wards 42, 48 and 49 and had a midday meal with students.

He announced that schools across Nellore city would be modernised to international standards in phases. He said TVS had allocated ₹6.5 crore through its CSR programme to transform the Government Model High School. According to Narayana, ₹2 crore had already been released for the building, with construction entrusted to NCC and scheduled for completion during the two-month summer vacation after annual examinations.

He said the school would provide education from nursery to intermediate and include science, computer and robotics laboratories, art and painting facilities, and a library. He added that tenders worth ₹20 crore for the TIDCO school had been finalised.