3 min readHyderabadUpdated: Feb 23, 2025 10:16 PM IST
Reacting to the APERC order, state Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav, who opposed the PPAs, told The Indian Express on Saturday that the government will examine the order and take action accordingly.
A DAY after the Andhra Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (APERC) approved power purchase from Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), the Opposition YSRCP in the state called the decision a “slap on the face of the ruling TDP and its friendly media that levelled baseless allegations” on the previous Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy government.
The TDP-led NDA government, which came to power in Andhra Pradesh in June 2024, had alleged irregularities and kickbacks in the power purchase agreements (PPAs) made by the previous Jagan government with SECI to purchase power from Adani Group and ordered a probe into the agreements. The probe was prompted in the backdrop of Adani Group chairman Gautam Adani’s indictment in the United States over bribery allegations.
Former Andhra minister and YSRCP leader Kakani Goverdhan Reddy said the APERC’s order “affirms and vindicates YSRCP’s stand on the SECI agreement”.
“…It’s a slap on the face of the TDP and its friendly media that has doled out story after story levelling baseless allegations. DISCOMs had never before entered into such an agreement earlier and it is the initiative of Jagan Mohan Reddy that has benefitted the state of `1.10 lakh crore, but (Chief Minister) Chandrababu Naidu had been saying that the state was losing `87,500 crore due to the agreement with SECI. There were numerous attempts to discredit YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to cover up the misdeeds of Chandrababu Naidu and the APERC statement has set the record straight,’’ Goverdhan Reddy said.
He said the APERC has endorsed the 7,000 MW power purchase agreements made in 2021 when the YSRCP was in power, stating that they are within the purview of the guidelines of the aggregate revenue requirement. For the year 2025-26, DISCOMs have sought permission to buy 4,000 MW solar power from the state regulatory body, he said. “This makes it clear and our stand is vindicated while N Chandrababu Naidu and his coterie have lost face on the issue,” he said.
Sources said APERC officials took into account that senior officials in the Jagan government’s finance, energy and revenue departments did not make any negative remarks or express dissent regarding the PPAs.
Reacting to the APERC order, state Finance Minister Payyavula Keshav, who opposed the PPAs, told The Indian Express on Saturday that the government will examine the order and take action accordingly.
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While the probe on the PPAs was going on, several TDP leaders told The Indian Express that it is very difficult to scrap the agreements as there are many legal issues. Cancelling the PPAs would lead to disruption in power supply which the TDP-led NDA government did not want, the leaders said.
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
