VIJAYAWADA: Andhra Pradesh has emerged as a leading State in the country in the digitisation of patient health records under the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM), outpacing neighbouring States across multiple key parameters of the Next Generation e-Hospital Hospital Management Information System (HMIS), according to senior officials of the National Informatics Centre (NIC).

VIJAYAWADA, May 12: Andhra Pradesh BJP State president PVN Madhav on Monday extended warm birthday greetings to Telugu Desam Party State president and Gajuwaka MLA Palla Srinivasa Rao, commending his unwavering commitment to public welfare and effective leadership.

In a message conveying his wishes, Mr. Madhav praised Mr. Srinivasa Rao for his dedicated service to the people and his ability to lead with purpose and vision. He noted that Mr. Srinivasa Rao had distinguished himself in public life by remaining closely connected with the people, serving as a source of inspiration to party workers and grassroots functionaries alike.

Mr. Madhav expressed his hope that Mr. Srinivasa Rao would go on to achieve greater milestones in public service, and offered prayers for his good health, happiness, and long life.

The BJP State president also conveyed his wish that Mr. Srinivasa Rao play an increasingly pivotal role in the development of Andhra Pradesh and in addressing the problems faced by the people of the State.

The birthday greetings from the BJP chief are being seen as a reflection of the cordial ties between the two NDA alliance partners in the State.

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.

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 6: BJP Andhra Pradesh State President PVN Madhav on Tuesday directed party functionaries and officials to respond promptly to public grievances received through the Jana Varadhi programme and ensure their resolution without delay.

Madhav was addressing a review meeting of the Jana Varadhi initiative held at the BJP State Party Office in Vijayawada, where he participated as the chief guest. The meeting brought together party leaders, Jana Varadhi coordinators, and district representatives from across the state to assess the progress of the grievance redressal programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Madhav said that Jana Varadhi had emerged as a direct channel through which citizens could bring their problems to the party's attention. He emphasised that every petition received through the programme must be duly registered and treated as a priority, with resolution to be pursued through coordinated engagement with the relevant government departments.

"There should be no delay in addressing the grievances of the people," he said. "Officials and party representatives must work in coordination and ensure that each complaint is resolved within a defined timeframe."

Jana Varadhi as a platform for governance outreach

Madhav further observed that Jana Varadhi served a dual purpose — not only as a mechanism for grievance redressal, but also as a platform for creating awareness among citizens about government schemes and welfare programmes. He called upon party workers to use the initiative to identify local problems proactively and resolve them before they escalated.

The meeting witnessed extensive discussion on a range of petitions received through Jana Varadhi, following which an action plan was drawn up for their systematic resolution. District-wise reports were presented by Jana Varadhi coordinators, detailing the nature and volume of grievances received from their respective regions.

Wide representation at the review

The meeting was attended by senior state party leaders, heads of various party wings, and district-level representatives, reflecting the organisational importance the BJP has accorded to the Jana Varadhi programme as an instrument of public connect ahead of the coming political season.

Officials were directed to maintain a structured follow-up mechanism to ensure that petitions did not remain pending beyond the stipulated period, and that citizens received timely communication regarding the status of their complaints.

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.

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.

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.

AMARAVATI: The Andhra Pradesh government is gearing up to hold extensive programmes across the State to mark the International Yoga Day on June 21, with Minister for Medical and Health Satya Kumar Yadav chairing a preparatory meeting with AYUSH officials at the department's headquarters here on Monday evening.

Addressing officials at the meeting, Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav directed that awareness about the importance of yoga be deepened among the public at large. He instructed officials to actively involve students, government employees, and members of Yoga associations, Rotary clubs, Lions clubs, and other civil society organisations in the planned events.

The Minister also suggested convening a dedicated meeting with yoga trainers across the State to solicit their inputs on the conduct of the programmes, and emphasised that the activities must build substantively on those held last year.

A State-level event of considerable scale is proposed to be organised in Amaravati under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, and officials were asked to prepare proposals accordingly. District-level Yoga Day programmes are to be conducted under the leadership of respective Collectors.

Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav noted that educational institutions are expected to reopen from the second week of June, following the summer vacation, and said that promoting awareness about yoga among students at that stage would yield wide-ranging benefits. He added that such initiatives would also contribute to the realisation of the State government's vision of Swarna Andhra Pradesh.

Report on last year's impact sought

The Minister enquired specifically into the scale and impact of programmes held on the occasion of International Yoga Day last year and directed AYUSH In-charge Commissioner Ronankhi Gopalkrishna to prepare a detailed report on the same.

Speaking at the meeting, Dr. Mantena Satyanarayana Raju, State Government Adviser on Yoga and Naturopathy, offered several important suggestions on the precautions and measures needed to effectively build public awareness through yoga and allied programmes.

Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav is expected to hold another round of discussions with officials shortly on the conduct of the Yoga Day events, and will also consult Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu on the matter.

VIJAYAWADA, May 3: Persons with disabilities are in no way inferior to their colleagues in the discharge of official duties, and with the resolution of minor workplace difficulties and provision of adequate opportunities, they can demonstrate even greater capability — this was the assertion of Andhra Pradesh NGGО State president A. Vidyasagar at the election of the new executive committee of the Andhra Pradesh Hearing Handicapped Employees Association (APHHEA), Amaravati, held on Sunday.

The elections were conducted at the AP NGO Home in Gandhinagar, Vijayawada, where a 17-member executive committee was returned unopposed.

Addressing the newly elected members, Mr. Vidyasagar said the AP NGGО has consistently worked towards the welfare of employees with diverse abilities and the redressal of their grievances, with particular attention to securing their rights. He added that improving communication facilities and workplace infrastructure in government offices would directly enhance the performance and productivity of hearing-impaired employees. He also noted that the government remains committed to the advancement and well-being of employees with disabilities.

New executive committee

The election results were formally declared by returning officer and AP NGGО State general secretary A. Ranjith Kumar Naidu. Acknowledgements were extended to election observers L. Rajanish Babu and assistant returning officer Ashok Babu.

The following were elected unanimously for a three-year term: V. Kumar (president), A. Venkat Reddy (associate president), A. Kanna (general secretary), and SK. Imam Khasim (treasurer). The vice-presidents elected are Ch. Ravi Kumar, P.H. Sriramudu, M. Ravi Durgaprasad, and K. Satyanarayana. M. Shiva Naga Santhosh was elected executive secretary. R. Srinivasarao, P. Lakshmi, M. Vijaya Prasad, and D. Sathish were elected joint secretaries, while T.T. Durgaprasad, V. Deva Rajulu, G. Srinivasarao, and S. Kishor were elected as secretaries.

The returning officer expressed confidence that the new committee would work tirelessly for the welfare of hearing-impaired government employees across the State.