VIJAYAWADA, May 12: BJP State spokesperson Sadineni Yamini Sharma on Monday issued a sharp warning to the YSR Congress Party, cautioning that remarks crossing the line of decency against Prime Minister Narendra Modi would not be tolerated under any circumstances.

Reacting strongly to comments made by YSRCP leader Perni Nani, Ms. Sharma demanded an immediate and unconditional retraction, urging the opposition leader to exercise restraint in his public utterances.

"A party whose leadership spent years governing from behind curtains and staged elaborate sets in place of functional secretariats has no moral authority to level criticism against the Prime Minister," she said, describing such attacks as both ironic and laughable.

Ms. Sharma contended that Mr. Modi had dedicated the past eleven years to tireless public service without drawing upon government funds for personal expenditure, and that YSRCP, with its record in office, was in no position to question his integrity.

Turning her attack on the previous YSRCP dispensation in Andhra Pradesh, she alleged that its leadership had routinely deployed dedicated helicopters even for distances of a kilometre, squandering public money, while simultaneously constructing palatial residences worth hundreds of crores in multiple cities. "Those who built palaces with public money ought to answer for their own conduct before speaking of public service," she said.

The BJP spokesperson further alleged that during the YSRCP government's tenure, citizens were subjected to prolonged hardships, hundreds of trees were felled, and State funds were diverted to paint party offices — transgressions that, she asserted, the people of Andhra Pradesh had not forgotten.

Concluding her remarks, Ms. Sharma said the Prime Minister's life stood as a testament to selfless service, and that it was this quality which had endeared him to the people of the country. She cautioned that YSRCP leaders were making reckless statements without even a basic understanding of the security protocols surrounding the office of the Prime Minister.

GUWAHATI, May 12: Himanta Biswa Sarma was sworn in as Chief Minister of Assam for the second consecutive term on Tuesday, following a decisive victory by the National Democratic Alliance in the recently concluded state assembly elections. The oath-taking ceremony was held at the Veterinary College Field in Guwahati.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Minister Nara Lokesh, several senior Union Ministers, and NDA chief ministers and deputy chief ministers from across the country attended the ceremony.

Along with Sarma, four cabinet ministers were also administered the oath of office on Tuesday. The ministerial berths were distributed among NDA constituent parties — the Bharatiya Janata Party, the Asom Gana Parishad and the Bodoland People's Front. Atul Bora of the Asom Gana Parishad, Charan Boro of the Bodoland People's Front, and Rameshwar Teli and Ajanta Neog of the BJP took oath as ministers in the new cabinet.

The NDA's emphatic performance in the Assam assembly elections, winning 81 of the 126 seats, paved the way for the alliance to return to power in the northeastern state for a third consecutive term — a feat that underscores the consolidation of the ruling coalition's political base in the region.

Sarma, who first assumed office as Chief Minister in 2021, has been the dominant face of BJP's political expansion in the northeast. His return to power with a strengthened mandate is widely seen as an endorsement of his administration's governance record over the past term.

The swearing-in ceremony witnessed a significant gathering of NDA leadership from across the country, reflecting the alliance's solidarity and the national importance accorded to the BJP's continued hold over Assam, one of the key states in India's northeastern corridor.

AMARAVATI, May 12:The Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday strongly condemned former minister and YSRCP leader Perni Nani for making what it described as derogatory remarks against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with the party's Andhra Pradesh state chief spokesperson Valluru Jayaprakash Narayana demanding an unconditional public apology.

Addressing the media , Jayaprakash Narayana said it was deeply unfortunate that the YSRCP leadership had chosen to respond to the Prime Minister's counsel on financial discipline, savings, and responsible living with personal attacks. "The Prime Minister's advice to citizens on building economic security for the future reflects a national leader's sense of responsibility. Reducing such guidance to political ridicule is both unwarranted and unbecoming," he said.

The BJP spokesperson cited India's rise as the world's fifth largest economy under Modi's leadership, pointing to the digital revolution, transparent governance, infrastructural growth, and enhanced global economic credibility as evidence of the government's track record. "These are not claims — these are realities that every Indian citizen is witnessing firsthand," he added.

Turning his attention to the YSRCP, Jayaprakash Narayana said the party had a consistent pattern of viewing every issue through a narrow political lens. "Perni Nani's remarks reflect political bankruptcy, not responsible engagement with public concerns. This is the hallmark of a party driven by frustration and irrelevance," he said.

The BJP leader made it clear that making disparaging remarks against the office of the Prime Minister was contrary to the norms of democratic culture and called upon Perni Nani to immediately withdraw his comments and exercise greater restraint. He warned that should the apology not be forthcoming, BJP cadres would stage protests outside Perni Nani's residence.

Jayaprakash Narayana also reminded voters that the people of Andhra Pradesh had already delivered a decisive democratic verdict against the YSRCP's "anarchic, destructive and corrupt politics," which he said had caused lasting damage to the state. "The people have spoken clearly. They rejected a political culture that set back Andhra Pradesh's development," he observed.

Concluding his remarks, the BJP spokesperson said that what ultimately matters is not who offers an idea, but how much it benefits the nation. "The politics of cynical criticism has run its course. People today are rallying behind leadership that offers vision, development and national purpose," he said.

VIJAYAWADA, May 12: Bharatiya Janata Party SC Morcha state president Panatala Suresh on Tuesday strongly condemned remarks made by former minister Perni Nani against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, demanding an unconditional public apology from YSRCP chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and warning that the party's continued resort to ridicule politics would cost it dearly in future elections.

Speaking to the media, Suresh said that Prime Minister Modi's recent visit to Telangana had been devoted to launching development schemes worth thousands of crores of rupees, carrying a clear message of inclusive national progress. He noted that the Prime Minister's counsel to citizens on reducing cooking oil consumption, conserving petrol and controlling pollution had struck a chord with the public.

"Sarcasm Politics" Condemned

Suresh accused YSRCP leaders of deliberately sidestepping substantive development discourse in favour of mockery and personal attacks. He specifically took strong exception to the remarks directed at the Prime Minister by Perni Nani, alleging that leaders who had lost public standing were resorting to such statements purely for publicity.

He challenged Jagan Mohan Reddy to hold a press conference and criticise the Prime Minister's policies directly, rather than doing so through proxies. "If you have the conviction, face the media and make your case," he said.

From Chaiwala to National Leader

Suresh drew a pointed contrast between Prime Minister Modi, who he described as a leader who rose from humble origins as a tea seller to understand the struggles of ordinary citizens, and those who entered politics through dynastic privilege. Perni Nani, he said, must immediately retract his remarks and tender an apology or face the consequences of public opinion.

Centre's Largesse to AP Cited

Suresh also highlighted the central government's allocation of lakhs of crores of rupees for the development of Andhra Pradesh and Amaravati, arguing that YSRCP's sarcastic posturing was a disservice to a state that stood to benefit enormously from the BJP-led government at the Centre. He warned that if the party persisted with such an approach, it risked failing to win even 11 seats in the forthcoming elections.

VIJAYAWADA, May 5: Bharatiya Janata Party Andhra Pradesh State president P.V.N. Madhav on Tuesday described the party's victories in three of the five States that went to the polls as historic, and said the results reflected the growing trust of the electorate in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership. He was addressing a press conference at the party's State office in Vijayawada.

Mr. Madhav said Mr. Modi had effectively articulated people's issues during the election campaign, and that voters in West Bengal had rewarded the BJP with a decisive mandate. The party's return to power in Assam and its success in Puducherry, he added, further underscored the expanding reach of the NDA.

Bengal win rooted in history and public discontent

Contextualising the West Bengal result within a broader historical frame, Mr. Madhav said the victory was made possible by the sacrifices of Shyama Prasad Mookerjee, and that winning in the land of luminaries such as Bankim Chandra Chatterjee, Swami Vivekananda, and Subhas Chandra Bose lent the achievement special significance.

He was sharply critical of the preceding years of Communist and Trinamool Congress rule in the State, alleging that both had presided over a rise in lawlessness. He further alleged that illegal immigrants from Bangladesh had been encouraged and cultivated as a vote bank by the ruling dispensation. It was public awareness of and anger against these trends, he argued, that had driven high voter turnout and ultimately brought the BJP to power.

Assam hat-trick and Kerala foothold

On Assam, Mr. Madhav said the BJP had achieved a hat-trick by strengthening the spirit of nationalism in the State. He also highlighted the party's performance in Kerala, where it won three seats and entered the State Assembly for the first time, describing it as a significant indicator of the party's geographic expansion.

Commenting on Tamil Nadu, he said the victory of actor-politician Vijay's party over the DMK was a signal of change in the State.

Senior party functionaries including Kapu Ramachandra Reddy, Saligrama Lakshmi Prasanna, Sheikh Baji, Rongala Gopi Srinivas, Uppalapati Srinivas Raju, Adduri Sriram, Syed Basha, Surendra Reddy, and Reddy Pavani were present at the press conference.

VIJAYAWADA, May 5: The Andhra Pradesh unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday held a victory rally in Vijayawada to celebrate the party's electoral successes in three States, with State president P.V.N. Madhav leading the procession from the Sujana Chowdary office at Bhavani Puram. Party leaders and workers turned out in large numbers for the celebratory event.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Madhav said the results reflected the trust that voters across the three States had reposed in the BJP. He singled out West Bengal as particularly significant, asserting that the people of the State had decisively ended the Trinamool Congress government led by Mamata Banerjee. The Bengal verdict, he said, had been received with jubilation across the country.

A journey from one seat to a historic majority

Recalling the party's ideological lineage, Mr. Madhav noted that the Jana Sangh had begun its journey in West Bengal — the birthplace of Dr. Shyama Prasad Mookerjee — with just a single seat, and that the BJP's landmark victory in the State today represented a remarkable political transformation. Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he added, NDA governments were now in power in nearly 20 States, which he described as a testament to the country's development trajectory.

Wins across States

Mr. Madhav also highlighted the party's strong performance in Assam under Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, as well as its gains in Puducherry. He pointed to the party's showing in constituencies with a Muslim population of around 60 per cent — where the BJP had won 40 of 63 seats — as evidence that the notion of minorities being averse to the party was a misconception. He also said the BJP welcomed the victory of actor-politician Vijay in Tamil Nadu.

The State president attributed the electoral successes to the organisational efforts of senior leaders such as Amit Shah and Sunil Bansal, as well as the sacrifices of party workers at the grassroots level.

Among those present at the event were NTR District president Adduri Sriram, MLA office in-charge Sridhar, BJP State office in-charge Uppalapati Srinivas Raju, State spokesperson Sheikh Baji, Minority Morcha State president Syed Basha, and OBC Morcha State president Rongala Gopi Srinivas.

AMARAVATI, May 5: BJP Andhra Pradesh State president P.V.N. Madhav on Monday welcomed the Central Government's decision to establish a new railway zone — the South Coast Railway — describing it as a historic administrative reform that would significantly benefit the State.

Notified through an official gazette under the Railways Act, 1989, the new zone is set to come into effect from June 1, 2026. The decision to locate its headquarters in Visakhapatnam, Mr. Madhav said, accorded special prominence to Andhra Pradesh and laid the groundwork for the port city to emerge as a major railway hub.

Restructured from existing zones

The South Coast Railway will be carved out of select divisions of the existing East Coast Railway and South Central Railway zones. The Guntakal, Guntur, and Vijayawada divisions, presently under South Central Railway, will be merged into the new zone. Simultaneously, the Waltair Division under East Coast Railway will be bifurcated — one portion rechristened as the Visakhapatnam Division and absorbed into the South Coast Railway, while the remaining portion will continue under East Coast Railway as the newly designated Rayagada Division.

Mr. Madhav noted that the Rayagada Division would cover routes including Koraput–Singapore Road, Kottavalasa–Kirandul, Kuneru–Theruvali, and Gunupur–Paralakhemundi. The Visakhapatnam Division, on the other hand, would extend from Ichhapuram to Duvvada, along with associated branch lines, substantially expanding rail connectivity in the region.

Operational clarity and coordination

The transfer of the Palasa–Ichhapuram section, currently under the Khurda Road Division, to the Visakhapatnam Division was also cited as a step that would improve operational coordination. The realignment of boundaries among the Guntakal, Guntur, Vijayawada, and Secunderabad divisions would, he added, bring greater administrative clarity to railway operations across the region.

Mr. Madhav expressed confidence that the reorganisation would enhance the efficiency, speed, and quality of rail services, and open up new avenues of development for Andhra Pradesh.

Conveying his gratitude to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw for the decision, Mr. Madhav said it represented a significant milestone in fulfilling the aspirations of the people of the State.

TIRUPATI DISTRICT, Varadayapalem, May 4: Andhra Pradesh BJP State president PVN Madhav on Monday called upon every party cadre to work with dedication and a spirit of service towards strengthening the party's organisation in the State, speaking as the chief guest at the Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya Prashikshan Maha Abhiyan programme held in Varadayapalem mandal of Tirupati district.

The training programme provided participants with a comprehensive understanding of the party's founding principles, ideology, and its commitment to the goal of Antyodaya — the upliftment of the last person in society.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. PVN Madhav said the Antyodaya principle propounded by Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya served as the guiding light for BJP governance. He stated that the welfare of the weakest and most marginalised section of society was the primary objective of the government, and that the Central government was implementing a wide range of welfare schemes in pursuit of that goal. Ensuring equal opportunities for every section of society in the country's development journey was the BJP's core mission, he added.

Mr. Madhav said the country was making progress across all sectors under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with people extending their support to the government's transparent administration, national security initiatives, and development programmes. He urged party cadre to remain firmly committed to the party's ideology and to deepen their connect with the people at the grassroots level.

The State president emphasised that training programmes such as this one were invaluable in strengthening the BJP's organisational base in Andhra Pradesh, and reiterated his call for every cadre member to work with a sense of mission and service. He reaffirmed the party's unwavering commitment to addressing the problems faced by the people.

A large number of party leaders and cadre attended the programme.

Srikalahasti, May 4: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders and cadres celebrated the party’s performance in the Assembly elections in West Bengal, Assam and Puducherry, at Srikalahasti under the leadership of Andhra Pradesh BJP president P.V.N. Madhav.

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Madhav said the results reflected the people’s continued support for Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He noted that the BJP had secured a clear majority in Assam, Puducherry and West Bengal, and described the outcome in West Bengal as particularly significant.

Referring to the ideological roots of the party, Mr. Madhav said West Bengal shared a historical connection with BJP’s founding ideologue Syama Prasad Mookerjee. The party’s success in his home State had enthused cadres across the country, he added.

Mr. Madhav congratulated party leaders and workers for their efforts, stating that the BJP’s growth was also evident in States such as Tamil Nadu and Kerala, where the party had registered a notable increase in vote share.

He said the results underscored public support for development, national security and transparent governance. Welfare initiatives of the Union government, infrastructure expansion and digital progress had received widespread appreciation, he observed.

Mr. Madhav attributed the victory to the support of youth, women, farmers and the middle class. He affirmed that efforts would continue to strengthen the party in Andhra Pradesh and reiterated the BJP’s commitment to addressing public issues.

Calling for unity, he urged citizens to work together towards the nation’s development.

VIJAYAWADA, May 4: Andhra Pradesh Minister Satya Kumar Yadav on Monday said the BJP's strong performance in the West Bengal Assembly elections signalled the end of what he described as a regime that fomented religious hatred, issued voter identity cards to illegal infiltrators, and deprived the poor of their rightful entitlements.

Reacting to the election results, Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav said the people of Bengal had blessed Prime Minister Narendra Modi in recognition of his commitment to regional development, basic infrastructure, and wealth creation for ordinary citizens. The BJP's victory, he said, was proof of the people's faith in the vision of Viksit Bharat.

The Minister said the NDA coalition was now poised to usher in successive terms in governance, breaking what he called the earlier assumption that a second consecutive victory was near impossible. He noted that in several States where the NDA was in power, the alliance had been consistently fulfilling its electoral promises.

Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav said the government would identify, delete, and deport illegal infiltrators, invoking what he described as the BJP's three-point slogan of "Detect, Delete, Deport." He said the party would continue to consolidate its presence across States on the strength of this agenda.

Underlining the party's inclusive development philosophy, the Minister cited Prime Minister Modi's "Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas" commitment as evidence that no region or community would be left behind. He reiterated that the people's trust in the BJP's ideology remained firm and that the party's win in Assam further reinforced this confidence.

VIJAYAWADA, May 4: BJP leaders and cadre in Vijayawada broke into celebrations on Monday following the party's dominant performance in West Bengal, Assam, and Puducherry, with Union Minister Bhupatiraju Srinivas Varma joining the festivities by distributing sweets among party workers.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Srinivas Varma described the results as historic, noting that while retaining power in Assam and Puducherry was itself significant, the gains made in West Bengal marked a watershed moment in the party's political journey. He pointed out that the BJP had not held a single MLA seat in West Bengal in 2011, went on to win 70 seats in 2021, and was now advancing towards the 200-seat mark — a trajectory he said was a testament to the growing trust of the people in the party.

The Union Minister alleged that the previous government's tenure in West Bengal was marked by violence and misappropriation of Central welfare schemes. He said that despite attacks during polling, the people of the State had stood firm and extended their support to the BJP, reflecting their resolve for change.

Mr. Srinivas Varma noted that it was particularly meaningful for the BJP to have grown in the home State of Syama Prasad Mookerjee, underlining the party's commitment to the development of Bengal. He recalled Mookerjee's contributions to the cause of uniform laws and national unity.

The Minister expressed confidence that West Bengal would be at the forefront of development in the coming years and that the BJP's expansion would continue in other States as well. He attributed the victories to the sustained efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party leadership, and the dedicated work of the cadre on the ground.