The confrontation between the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition and its rival YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) over the implementation of the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model for government medical colleges has reached new heights with protests and the government’s counter-accusations of misinformation.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, speaking at a collectors’ conference on December 17, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to the PPP approach for developing 10 medical colleges, describing it as essential for delivering superior healthcare services and preventing the potential scrapping of seats. These institutions are among 17 sanctioned during the previous YSRCP tenure, several of which faced delays that risked losing approvals.
Government defends the PPP model
Officials maintained that the colleges will remain under full government supervision, with 50% of seats reserved under the government quota at regulated fees, while the partnership adds hundreds of new MBBS seats overall.
Health Minister Y. Satya Kumar Yadav, on December 16, dismissed the YSRCP’s opposition as a ‘drama’ aimed at former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s political revival, alleging signature fabrication due to lack of genuine public backing. TDP leaders, including spokesperson Neelayapalem Vijay Kumar and MP Kesineni Sivanath, have accused the YSRCP of spreading falsehoods in Parliament and on the ground, alleging that the previous regime allocated private quotas in government colleges and failed to operationalize many facilities, nearly costing the state valuable medical seats.
YSRCP intensifies protest with massive signature drive
The YSRCP has mounted a vigorous counter-campaign, branding the move as outright privatization and a ‘massive scam’ involving the transfer of public assets, including approximately 257 acres of land, buildings, and infrastructure to private entities. Party leaders, including former minister Gudivada Amarnath, warned of exorbitant fees burdening students and deteriorating public healthcare access.
The opposition’s statewide ‘Koti Santhakala Sekarana’ (collecting one crore signatures) drive concluded recently, reportedly surpassing its target with claims of 1.3 crore signatures collected. Materials from the campaign were dispatched to party headquarters, and YSRCP president Jagan is scheduled to lead a delegation submitting the petitions to Governor Abdul Nazeer today in Vijayawada.
YSRCP MPs staged demonstrations in New Delhi, while district-level rallies and protests continued across the state, vowing sustained agitation until the policy is withdrawn. The dispute, which has spilled from assembly sessions and streets into the Parliament, showed a deep division on healthcare policy nearly 18 months into the TDP coalition’s term.
With the government resolute on proceeding and the opposition promising legal and public escalation, the controversy shows no signs of abating, potentially influencing broader debates on education and public resource management in Andhra Pradesh.