Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has been facing severe pressure from TDP ranks to act against former chief minister YS Jagnmohan Reddy after the US Court indictment against Gautam Adani clearly mentioned allegations that YCP chief was involved in huge bribes.
It may be recalled that as Leader of Opposition, Chandrababu Naidu had severely criticized when Jagan reached into agreement with Adani on solar power purchase agreement, alleging detrimental to the interests of the state. Even, present finance minister Payyavula Keshav filed a PIL in the AP High Court seeking cancellation of that agreement.
Surprisingly after a few adjournments in the High Court, Keshav is no longer pursuing the case. However, last week he said that the government is taking legal advice to take suitable action on the agreement.
Ironically, minister Nara Lokesh said there are several legal complications for the government to take action against agreement with Adani.
Speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, CM Chandrababu Naidu had said, “I have all the reports of the indictment filed in the US. We will study them and take action accordingly. We will inform you what action we will take.”
In response to some NDA members demanding action against Jagan, Naidu had said the allegations against the previous YSRCP government hurt the brand image of the state. “It is sad. Our prestige has been hurt.” However, both Chandrababu Naidu and Lokesh said to be hesitating to take any action against Adani for obvious reasons.
But, several TDP leaders are coming out seeking action against Jagan in this case so as to keep up the sentiments of the party cadre. TDP spokesperson Anam Venkataramana Reddy demanded that Jagan Mohan Reddy should reveal details of his meetings with industrialist Gautam Adani.
Claiming that files related to purchasing power from Adani Group through the Solar Energy Corporation of India Limited (SECI) were secretly signed and moved by the previous YSRCP government in spite of opposition from various departments, the TDP leader demanded that Jagan come clean on the bribery allegations made in the indictment of Gautam Adani in a US court.
Sources in the TDP say that several party leaders are in a bind regarding the bribery allegations amounting to Rs 1,750 crore, and feel the TDP-led NDA government should open an investigation into the power purchase agreements and hold Jagan accountable.
On Tuesday, two state ministers had said that power purchase agreements made by the Jagan government with the SECI to purchase power from Adani Group are under scanner.
