The Andhra Pradesh government has launched an elaborate programme titled 'Yogaandhra-2026' to mark International Yoga Day on June 21, setting a target of engaging one crore citizens across the state in yoga activities, from village level to the state capital.

The flagship event will be held in Amaravati, where 25,000 participants are expected to gather for a state-level yoga session. In the fortnight leading up to the day, awareness drives, walkathons, social media campaigns, and demonstration events will be conducted under the Yogaandhra banner from June 7 to June 20.

District-wise thematic approach

In what officials describe as a distinctive feature of this year's observance, each of the state's 28 districts has been assigned a specific community or occupational group as its theme. NTR district will conduct sessions with police personnel, while East Godavari will involve prison inmates. Visakhapatnam's programme is themed around serving and retired defence personnel, and Alluri Sitarama Raju district will focus on tribal communities.

Other notable pairings include Kurnool with sanitation workers, Tirupati with celebrities, Anantapur with persons with disabilities, and YSR Kadapa with multi-generational family participation. Guntur district's sessions will centre on engineering students, while Prakasam will engage DWACRA women's groups. Each district headquarters is required to ensure a minimum of 1,000 participants.

Infrastructure and digital outreach

Competitions in yoga will be held at village, mandal, district, and state levels, with participation open to students, athletes, women's self-help groups, health workers, and industrial labourers, among others. Venues including schools, parks, community halls, stadiums, and gram sachivalayams will be equipped with drinking water, seating, and temporary shelters.

Oversight of the programme at the district level has been entrusted to the respective Collectors. The Tourism Department has been directed to organise special yoga demonstrations at more than 100 tourist sites across the state.

To streamline participation, the government plans to develop a dedicated web portal and an AI-based registration and verification application. Digital certificates will be issued to all participants upon completion.

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.

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.

TULLLUR (GUNTUR): Construction of the long-awaited capital city of Amaravati is progressing at a brisk pace, with the MLA and MLC residential-cum-office complexes being built at Rayapudi nearing completion, Municipal Administration Minister P. Narayana said on Tuesday.

The Minister inspected the under-construction MLA and MLC bhavan complexes at Rayapudi in Amaravati and spoke to the media thereafter, expressing confidence that the capital city project was firmly back on track.

Neighbouring States Taking Note

Mr. Narayana said the scale and speed of construction activity in Amaravati had begun to attract attention and admiration even in neighbouring states. "People across state boundaries are talking about what is happening here," he said, underlining the project's growing visibility as a symbol of the government's development agenda.

Land Pooling: Near-Complete Allocation

Providing a detailed account of the land pooling exercise, the Minister stated that 30,753 farmers had contributed 35,017 acres of land for the capital's development. Of these, plots had already been allotted against 34,525 acres, with allotments pending for only 674 farmers — translating to a completion rate of 98.06 per cent.

He attributed the pending cases to court proceedings initiated by certain farmers and to unresolved family disputes over land ownership, clarifying that the delay was not on account of any administrative failure. All allotments, he added, had been carried out transparently through a lottery system.

Political Conspiracy Alleged

Taking strong exception to what he described as a disinformation campaign, Mr. Narayana alleged that a section of people were deliberately spreading falsehoods about the capital project for political ends. "Those who claim that the government has not allotted plots despite farmers giving their lands must acquaint themselves with the facts," he said, accusing them of orchestrating a political conspiracy against Amaravati.

Handover to GAD

The Minister further stated that completed structures would be formally handed over to the General Administration Department (GAD) upon the conclusion of construction work, paving the way for their operationalisation.

The inspection was seen as part of the state government's efforts to underscore progress on the capital front ahead of the legislature session.

AMARAVATI, May 10: Andhra Pradesh has secured second place nationally in two prestigious Union government awards recognising excellence in rural development, BJP State President PVN Madhav announced on Sunday, describing the achievement as a matter of pride for every resident of the State.

The awards — the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Panchayat Satatva Vikas Puraskar–2025 and the Nanaji Deshmukh Sarvottam Panchayat Satatva Puraskar–2025 — are conferred by the Union Ministry of Panchayati Raj to honour outstanding contributions to sustainable village development, sanitation, and the realisation of Gram Swaraj ideals.

Mr. Madhav attributed the recognition to the sustained efforts of the NDA alliance government in the State, saying it vindicated the administration's commitment to strengthening the Panchayati Raj system at the grassroots level. He praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership for charting a new course in rural development across the country.

The BJP State president extended his congratulations to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for his visionary stewardship of the State's development agenda, and to Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan for his effective management of the Panchayati Raj portfolio.

Special felicitations were conveyed to the sarpanches, elected representatives, administrative officials, and residents of the four gram panchayats that earned the awards — Shringavaram, Bokkasampalem, Chemullappalli, and Gundamala. Mr. Madhav expressed hope that the State would continue to advance further in achieving the goals of rural development, sanitation, and sustainable growth.

"This national recognition is a testament to what the NDA government has been able to accomplish in a short span of time by keeping villages and their people at the centre of governance," he said.

AMARAVATI, May 10: BJP State President PVN Madhav on Sunday demanded immediate disciplinary action against a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) who allegedly assaulted the party's Kadapa district president during Hanuman Jayanti celebrations, calling on the Director General of Police (DGP) to take prompt action against the erring officer.

Mr. Madhav said the DSP should be suspended forthwith, and brought the matter to the attention of the State government.

The incident occurred at Almasapeta Centre in Kadapa city, where BJP and SC Morcha leaders were reportedly attacked by a group of miscreants who tore down decorative arches and flags erected for the Hanuman Jayanti festivities. When police resorted to a lathi-charge to disperse the aggressors, the Kadapa district BJP president intervened to appeal for restraint and urged the police not to use force against the locals — at which point the DSP allegedly assaulted him physically.

"When a democratically elected party leader steps forward to restore peace and appeals to police to exercise restraint, it is deeply condemnable that a senior officer would raise his hand against him," Mr. Madhav said, terming the officer's conduct as "grossly unacceptable."

The BJP State president also observed that the incident was particularly unfortunate given that it unfolded during a period of widespread Hanuman Jayanti processions and bike rallies being conducted peacefully across Andhra Pradesh. He stressed that the sentiments of devotees must be protected and that incidents of this nature should not be allowed to recur.

Mr. Madhav called on the police department to direct its action against those who had carried out the original attack on the Hanuman Jayanti decorations, rather than against those who were conducting peaceful religious programmes. He reminded the law enforcement machinery that maintaining law and order was its primary obligation.

"The double engine government has been working to accelerate development and welfare programmes, and public trust in the administration is growing," he said, adding that such incidents of police high-handedness risked eroding that goodwill.

The BJP has demanded that the DGP register a departmental case against the DSP and initiate action under the relevant provisions governing police conduct.

AMARAVATI, May 6: The Andhra Pradesh government on Wednesday dismissed 51 doctors serving under the Director of Medical Education (DME) for remaining absent from duty without authorisation, Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav announced, warning that the state would brook no further negligence in public medical institutions.

The dismissed doctors include eight Associate Professors, 41 Assistant Professors, and two Tutors — several of whom had been absent from their posts for periods ranging from one year to as long as six years. The action was taken under Rule 3 of the Andhra Pradesh Civil Services (Conduct) Rules (Violation) — 1964, which empowers the government to treat prolonged unauthorised absence as deemed resignation.

"Show-cause notices were issued and adequate time was given to respond. Despite that, there was no response from these individuals," Satya Kumar Yadav said. "Those who are negligent in discharging their duties or who remain absent without authorisation will face strict action. There is absolutely no question of tolerating irresponsibility."

Absent for years, some since 2020

Among the Associate Professors dismissed, one attached to Andhra Medical College had been absent since February 7, 2020 — a period of over five years. Among the Assistant Professors, one had not reported for duty since August 22, 2022. The dismissed doctors belong to government medical colleges spread across the state, including those at Kadapa, Anantapur, Ongole, Tirupati, Vijayawada, Kakinada, Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram, Rajamahendravaram, Eluru, Nellore, and Markapur.

Of the two Tutors dismissed, one had been absent for seven years — among the longest periods of unauthorised absence recorded in the exercise.

Charge memos bring eleven back to duty

The crackdown has already produced results in some cases. Eleven doctors who had been absent for under a year returned to duty after the DME issued charge memoranda. However, 33 others — comprising two Associate Professors and 31 Assistant Professors — have yet to report despite receiving notices, and face dismissal if they fail to join within the stipulated deadline.

In the Professor category, three individuals who had been absent for extended periods are expected to face similar punitive action shortly. Of five Professors served notices, two have since returned to duty.

Impact on patient care cited as primary concern

Officials noted that the prolonged absence of faculty from teaching hospitals had a direct and measurable impact on the quality of medical services available to patients. Many of the absentees had reportedly pursued private engagements while remaining on government rolls — a practice that had gone largely unchecked during the previous administration.

Following directions issued by the Minister, DME officials compiled detailed lists of absentees from across all government medical colleges before initiating formal proceedings under the applicable service rules.

The government has simultaneously indicated that vacancies arising from these dismissals will be filled promptly under its Zero Vacancy Policy, ensuring that the affected institutions are not left short-staffed in the interim.

With 33 more doctors yet to report and action pending against three Professors, further dismissals in the coming weeks appear likely.

Amaravati, May 6: In what has emerged as one of the most remarkable electoral coincidences in recent Tamil Nadu political history, a DMK Minister has lost the Tirupattur Assembly constituency by a single vote — the precise margin that the BJP's election incharge for the segment had repeatedly predicted months before polling day.

Kokker Srinivas, a BJP leader from Andhra Pradesh appointed by the party's national leadership as election incharge for the Tirupattur Assembly constituency, had taken up residence in the segment from March 6 onwards, conducting an intensive campaign across all seven mandals of the constituency for 45 consecutive days until April 25.

Throughout this period, Srinivas consistently emphasised a single, unwavering message to party workers, booth-level functionaries, and allied party cadres alike: that one vote could alter political destiny.

"One vote changes political fate," he told gatherings across the constituency. "One vote decides victory. This one vote can change history." The message was repeated not merely as a rhetorical device, but as a strategic directive — workers were mobilised with the explicit understanding that no vote could be treated as inconsequential.

The same message was carried to meetings of the National Democratic Alliance partners in the constituency, including the AIADMK and the AMMK, where Srinivas elaborated the point with historical examples of razor-thin electoral outcomes.

When results came, the words acquired new weight

When votes were counted on May 4, the outcome at Tirupattur confounded observers across the political spectrum. The TVK candidate prevailed over the sitting DMK Minister by a margin of exactly one vote — a result described by election analysts as virtually without precedent in Tamil Nadu's electoral history.

The coincidence was not lost on BJP workers who had sat through those pre-election meetings.

"When he said it then, we took it as motivational talk," admitted a senior BJP functionary in Tirupattur. "But he said it so clearly, so many times — only now do we realise the full significance of what he was telling us."

A question of political foresight

The episode has since sparked considerable discussion across party lines in Tirupattur and beyond — not merely about the extraordinary result itself, but about the degree to which the BJP's national apparatus had assessed ground realities in the constituency with precision.

Whether the repeated emphasis on a single-vote margin reflected a precise reading of the constituency's electoral arithmetic, or whether it was a general motivational strategy that happened to align with an extraordinary outcome, remains a matter of conjecture. What is beyond dispute, however, is that the phrase "one vote" has acquired an entirely new resonance in Tirupattur's political lexicon.

The result has drawn wide coverage across print and electronic media, with analysts examining both the mechanics of the recount process and the broader implications of such a narrow verdict in a constituency where a Cabinet Minister was the incumbent.

For the BJP, whose candidate was not the eventual winner, the episode has nonetheless provided an unexpected moment of political vindication — the party's meticulous booth-level mobilisation and the incharge's insistent messaging are now being cited within its ranks as evidence of sound ground-level intelligence.

The Tirupattur constituency result is currently under scrutiny, with legal and procedural processes expected to follow given the unprecedented margin.

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.

AMARAVATI, May 4: Andhra Pradesh BJP State president PVN Madhav on Monday conveyed his birthday greetings to Vice-President of India C.P. Radhakrishnan, describing his rise from an ordinary party worker to the country's second-highest constitutional office as a reflection of his exceptional qualities and commitment to public life.

In a statement released on the occasion, Mr. Madhav said that Mr. Radhakrishnan's journey was an inspiration for generations to come, and that his long years of political experience had been marked by unstinting dedication to the welfare of the people. He said the Vice-President's contributions to public life would be remembered for years to come.

Mr. Madhav expressed his wish that the Vice-President enjoy good health and happiness, and conveyed his hope that the country would achieve greater progress and development under his guidance and leadership.

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.