Allegations and counter-allegations in Andhra Pradesh over how much political leaders spent on travelling reached a new high on Tuesday, with IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh alleging that former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy spent Rs 222.85 crore for air travel during his tenure between 2019 and 2024.
This came after reports in a media outlet owned by Jagan’s family claimed that Lokesh flew 77 times to Hyderabad using public money since becoming a minister.
Making allegations of his own, Lokesh said, “As AP struggled, Jagan spent hundreds of crores on luxury travel… RTI exposes, and the truth is finally out. Apart from splurging on building a palace at Visakhapatnam for Rs 500 crore, Rs 222 crore was spent on flying around. Andhra Pradesh deserved a vision, but got a vacation from 2019 to 2024.”
“Data and documents provided by APACL (Andhra Pradesh Aviation Corporation Limited) show that Rs 87.02 crores was spent on helicopters, Rs 112.50 crore on fixed-wing aircraft, and Rs 23.31 crore on boarding, crew handling and lodging between 2019 and 2024, and the entire amount totalling Rs 222.85 crore was fully drawn from the state Treasury,” he alleged.
Jagan’s YSR Congress Party rejected the allegations as lies. He also challenged Lokesh to make public the “full record” of his father, Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s air travel bills.
Lokesh, his Telugu Desam Party, supporters, and RTI activist Suresh Babu sought data from the APACL regarding Jagan’s travels after the media outlet ‘Sakshi’ published articles claiming that Lokesh frequently flies to Hyderabad at the expense of the state. One article claimed that Lokesh was vacationing in Hyderabad during the floods in Andhra Pradesh.
They filed RTIs with four departments associated with Lokesh, seeking details of expenses incurred by him. “All four RTI disclosures showed that the state government did not pay for Lokesh’s travels, and that he did not claim even a single rupee. Every flight, including special flights, were paid from his personal income,” Lokesh’s office said.
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“Verified timelines show him engaged in a packed series of public duties across Vijayawada, Puttaparthi, Mangalagiri, and Amaravati, and personally supervising flood-relief operations through the night in Vijayawada,” it added.
TDP leader Anam Venkataramana Reddy said, “Every ticket, including special flights taken for urgent government duties, was paid entirely from minister Lokesh’s personal funds. These are not TDP statements; they are official, written, departmental records now in the public domain.”
The Higher Education Department, Skill Development and Training Department, Information Technology, Electronics and Communications, and Department of Real Time Governance sent replies to the RTI applications.
The TDP, of which Lokesh is general secretary, threw its weight behind him. “The RTI responses show that minister Nara Lokesh has borne the full cost of all his travel for official delegations, investment missions, interstate meetings, and party responsibilities. At a time when many leaders freely drain the state Treasury for personal comfort, minister Lokesh’s conduct stands out as responsible, transparent and exemplary,” the TDP said in a statement.
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“As National General Secretary of the Telugu Desam Party, Lokesh handles responsibilities across multiple states, including Telangana. He travels to Delhi, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and other national capitals as part of his mandate and funds every such trip from his personal earnings. The RTI replies leave no room for distortion: none of Minister Lokesh’s 77 flights cost the state exchequer even a single rupee,” it said.
According to the data released by APACL, from 2019 to 2024, the expenditure on helicopters was Rs 87,02,50,000, fixed wing aircraft Rs 1,12,50,98,748, and other charges were Rs 23,31,77,065. The expenses on helicopters were paid to GMR Aviation Pvt Ltd and fixed-wing aircraft hire charges were paid to various agencies.
Jagan’s party responds
In a statement responding to Lokesh’s allegations, the YSRCP said, “Your father was Chief Minister for more than 15 years. Show the full record of his air travel bills as CM and then speak. Let the people see where public money actually went. Facts do not bend just because you shout louder.”
On Lokesh’s allegations regarding a “palace at Visakhapatnam”, the YSRCP said, “Your own government’s Tourism Department has clearly stated that the Visakhapatnam buildings belong to the Tourism Department. Your father himself formed a committee of ministers to decide their usage. Yet today, you call it the palace of YS Jagan. If you truly believe that, then register it in his personal name today.”
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The party further said, “In the last 18 months, you, your father, and your Janasena brother Pawan Kalyan have been flying in luxury chartered flights, private jets, and high-end helicopters. You people are doing shuttle service from Hyderabad to Vijayawada every weekend. It is clearly visible to everyone in Andhra Pradesh. Just tell the public who is paying for these trips. If they are from your own pockets, show your bank statements. If they are through your benami companies, explain why they are spending on you.”
The YSRCP also alleged that the allegations against Jagan were manufactured due to questions being raised over the condition of schools and hostels, and about law and order.
