Jayaprakash Narayan, General Secretary at Foundation for Democratic Reforms (FDR), recently addressed the current state of affairs in Andhra Pradesh, offering valuable insights into its future trajectory. During a conversation with journalists, he highlighted several concerning issues that warrant urgent attention.

Unrealistic Promises and Excessive Debt Burden:

Narayan expressed concern that political leaders and parties, driven by their pursuit of power, often make impractical promises without fully understanding the ground reality. He pointed out that a state's debt should ideally not exceed 20%, but Andhra Pradesh currently bears a burden surpassing 40%. This excessive debt has resulted from unrealistic promises made by political parties, amounting to an astronomical Rs 1,20,000 crores annually. These commitments were made without adequately considering the financial feasibility or the source of funds to fulfill them.

Centralization of Power and Lack of Transparency:

Narayan further raised concerns about the centralization of power in Andhra Pradesh. He noted that the Chief Minister does not engage with the public, leading to a situation where the debt has surged to 46%. Consequently, the government is grappling with challenges such as unpaid arrears for government employees and pending bills, including those for Arogyasri balances owed to hospitals. Additionally, Narayan pointed out the lack of transparency in the state's administration. He stated that only the personal secretaries of the Chief Minister are privy to the actual situation, leaving others in the dark. He questioned the necessity for volunteers to distribute essential supplies, raising concerns about the efficiency of the administration.

Systemic Change through Direct Elections as the Remedy:

Narayan emphasized the need for a systemic change to address the pressing problems in Andhra Pradesh. He advocated for direct elections at the state level as the crucial remedy. By directly electing state representatives, he believes that the people will hold their leaders accountable and ensure that they govern responsibly.

Narayan concluded that there is no single-shot solution to the state's challenges, but a systemic change through direct elections would empower the people to bring about long-lasting positive transformation in Andhra Pradesh.