Andhra battling floods, CM Naidu gets feet wet, hands dirty

Adding to Vijayawada’s woes is the heavy flood discharge from upstream Telangana into the Krishna. On Monday, floodwater was discharged at a rate of 11.43 lakh cusecs – highest in the 70-year history of the Prakasam Barrage.

The situation, being described by many as worse than the 2005 Vijayawada floods, has presented the NDA government in Andhra – comprising Naidu’s Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Pawan Kalyan’s JanaSena Party (JSP) and BJP – its first challenge since it stormed to power in June.

TDP insiders claim Naidu was prepared for the situation. “When the first warning was issued on August 29, he held a meeting with officials in all districts and ward secretariats, and instructed them to prioritise rescue and relief,” a source said.

TDP national spokesperson Jyothsna Tirunagari said that apart from the official machinery, Naidu also put into motion the party apparatus, including MPs, MLAs and cadre. “He emphasised that we are in this together and will tackle the situation together,” she said.

A former MP and Naidu’s close aide said that when the situation worsened, the CM roped in restaurant and hotel associations. “All of them pitched in.”

Naidu has stayed put in Vijayawada since the intervening night of August 31 and September 1, said TDP leaders.

According to government figures, as of Tuesday, around 50,000 people have been accommodated in safer places while 163 relief camps are running in schools, colleges and other spaces. To check the spread of diseases, the government is operating 193 medical camps while 47 State Disaster Response Force and 26 National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams are at work round-the-clock.

Naidu’s son and state Information and Technology (IT) Minister Lokesh Naidu has taken charge of messages of help marked to officials on social media.

The Opposition accuses Naidu of “trying to politically milk a natural calamity”. “Everything is a photoshoot for the government. There are many areas where no rescue and relief have reached. People are dying and the government is just out there to show that everything is fine. Is (Prime Minister) Narendra Modi personally inspecting affected areas to assess damage?” Venkatesh Raju, a YSRCP leader from Nandigama in NTR district, said.

A resident of Singh Nagar in Vijayawada complained that despite the government’s claims, relief reached them very late. “I am worried about my safety and that of my family members. Only after the situation normalises can I say if the government has done its job or not,” he said.

Teja N, a resident of Ajit Nagar, also questioned the government’s claims. “There are children and elderly stuck here. Some of them need medicines. Government help has been minimal. It has been four days now,” he said.

While dismissing allegations of putting optics over operations, a TDP leader admitted that some dark spots existed. “It is mainly because the water flow in some areas is so high that rafts and other means of reaching the people were not working. However, after the Centre dispatched NDRF personnel and Indian Air Force helicopters, these areas have also been accessed,” the leader said.

Tirunagari talks about how Naidu was similarly active on the ground during his earlier stints as CM, when faced with Cyclones Hudhud and Titli or the Konaseema floods.

Old-timers who appreciate Naidu’s response cite the example of October 2009 when, just over a month following then CM Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s death in a helicopter crash and amid a political vacuum, united Andhra Pradesh had been hit by floods affecting over 4.18 lakh people. Official estimates put the death toll at 60, with the Congress government coming under attack for its “mismanagement”.

Despite their criticism of the Naidu government, YSRCP leaders admit that the CM’s presence on the ground stands out sharply against the “absence” of their own leaders, including ex-CM Jagan Mohan Reddy.

A former YSRCP MLA, who did not wish to be named, said Jagan had been in touch with leaders and was “monitoring the situation”. “He and other party leaders visited flood-affected areas. He is speaking with officials regularly to ensure that operations are on track,” the leader said.

But, compared to Naidu, that may not be enough, the leader added. “Jagan is not taking any interest in overseeing operations or putting pressure on the government to ensure the safety of people. Be it social media or the ground, it seems only the TDP has its feet on the ground. I am not saying no one from the YSRCP is working for the people, but the efforts could have been much better.”