AI-generated videos add fuel to the TDP versus YSCRP fire

As AI video of Jagan spreads online, Andhra Pradesh minister Nara Lokesh appeals to cadre: ‘Maintain dignity’

Former CM Jagan Mohan Reddy (left) and Telangana IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh. (Express photo)

AI has given a fresh twist to the escalating war on social media between supporters of the Telugu Desam Party and the YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh, which turned ugly this week after a post with derogatory content about former CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy started circulating online.

The YSRCP has accused TDP activists of creating the post and circulating it. This prompted the state’s IT and HRD Minister, Nara Lokesh, to appeal to the TDP cadre to maintain dignity while criticising opposition parties and their leaders. “To my beloved TDP family – while I get the emotion behind such content, personal attacks are never desirable. We may be political opponents, but our public discourse must be grounded in dignity and respect. I request everyone, including our supporters, to avoid amplifying such content. Let us maintain civility even in disagreement, and focus on constructive politics that strengthens Andhra Pradesh,” he wrote.

The post he was responding to showed an AI-generated video of CM N Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh walking with supporters as Jagan, sitting on the roadside, walks up to them with a poster that reads: “Please give me opposition status.”

In September, Jagan had filed a petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking to be appointed as the Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly. Jagan’s move came after Speaker Ayannapatrudu in February denied his request citing that the YSRCP did not have the requisite numbers – 10% — in the 175-member House to be given the LoP’s post. The YSRCP has only 11 MLAs, while it requires a minimum of 17.

Former YSRCP MLA and spokesperson K Anil Kumar said, “If they can do this to Jagan, a former CM, imagine the online abuse and harassment that our women leaders face every day.”

YSRCP leaders claimed that online abuse has increased after Jagan began making short trips to various constituencies to highlight issues faced by farmers, cyclone-affected fishermen, and others. “Jagan remains highly popular in the state despite the election defeat, and TDP cadres and local leaders are unable to cope. They are resorting to cheap tricks by posting derogatory remarks and comments on Jagan and YSRCP leaders on social media. Some of these posts are so offensive and involve invectives that cannot be mentioned. The AI-generated posts look so real that one cannot discern if they are true or false,” said former MLA T Sudhakar Babu, who urged the YSRCP leadership to file court complaints.

TDP leaders countered that healthy discussions or criticism on social media were turned into abusive content by YSRCP cadres when Jagan was the CM from 2019 to 2024. “Not only YSRCP cadre, even their leaders openly used derogatory words against Chandrababu Naidu, his wife, and son Lokesh. YSRCP leaders failed to rein them in. Some of the offensive posts attributed to TDP are created by mischievous people trying to create chaos online,” said a member of TDP IT Wing.

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Home Minister V Anitha said that YSRCP supporters had normalised abusing women leaders, including herself. Anitha has suggested to CM Naidu that the government bring a law to enable it to monitor offensive posts and take action.

“There should be a law against offensive posts, especially against women, misinformation, and false propaganda. It does not matter which party the culprits belong to; they should all face action if they indulge in online abuse,” she said.

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