YS Sharmila, the AP Congress Chief, continues her sharp critique of both the ruling TDP and the opposition YSRCP, targeting their actions with equal intensity. Her recent focus has been on the state’s new liquor policy, which has stirred fresh controversy. On Monday, Andhra Pradesh held a statewide lottery to allocate licenses for 3,396 liquor shops. The winning applicants are set to receive ownership of these outlets by the following day, and the new policy will be enforced starting October 16.
Sharmila voiced her strong opposition to this process, highlighting concerns over the transparency of the lottery system and the larger implications of expanding liquor sales in the state. Taking to social media platform X.
She stated, “You speak against political meddling in governance, but isn’t that exactly what’s happening with the liquor syndicates? It’s widely known that ruling party leaders have colluded, forming syndicates to capture liquor shops. Over 3,000 shops have been allotted to these syndicates, revealing the true extent of your transparency and impartiality. Ministers, MLAs, and MPs supervised the entire tender process, making sure ordinary people were intimidated across the state, preventing them from securing shops. There were threats that those who refused to cooperate were warned of losing their lives. If by chance the lottery went to someone outside the syndicates, they were threatened: either give up the license with a 30% commission, or face dire consequences. They openly challenged how anyone could sell liquor without their approval.”
She further targeted the Chief Minister, asking, “Is sitting in AC rooms and issuing warnings enough? Where are the real actions?”
YS Sharmila launched another attack on both the current ruling alliance and the former YSRCP government, accusing them of corruption in liquor sales. She highlighted that during the YSRCP’s previous tenure, liquor shops only accept cash payments, deliberately excluding digital transactions, which she claimed was a method to facilitate large-scale looting.
She remarked, “If the previous YSRCP government swallowed the temple with their ‘cash only’ policy, now you’re devouring the very core of it.” Sharmila further accused the current coalition of flooding the state with liquor under the pretense of offering lower prices, while secretly looting thousands of crores. She claimed that the current government is trying to hide its wrongdoings, just as it is covering up the liquor scam from the previous YSRCP regime.
Her accusations suggest that both governments are protecting each other’s corrupt actions, ensuring that neither’s misdeeds in the liquor industry come to light.
