YSRCP leader alleges irregularities in AP Telugu Academy operations

YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) general secretary Nandamuri Lakshmi Parvathi, a former chairperson of the Telugu Academy, on Tuesday alleged financial irregularities and administrative mismanagement in the Academy under the current coalition government in Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli, Lakshmi Parvathi claimed that the Academy's academic standards have been compromised. She accused Human Resource Development Minister Nara Lokesh of facilitating these irregularities.

According to her, the government modified tender norms to award printing contracts to firms that had previously been rejected. She alleged that the printing cost per page for textbooks was increased from 20 paise to 30 paise, resulting in unnecessary expenditure.

Lakshmi Parvathi further stated that PDF files of the Intermediate second-year syllabus were allegedly sold to private colleges for ₹10 crore, violating Academy rules. Although a police complaint was filed, she claimed efforts are being made to close the case under political pressure.

She also alleged that outsourced appointments were made without the approval of the Executive Council, and that relatives and associates were recruited on high salaries. Academy funds, she said, were being diverted for virtual programmes, YouTube channels, and other non-academic activities.

Recalling the previous YSRCP government's tenure, Lakshmi Parvathi said the Academy had been revived through institutional reforms and secured nearly ₹150 crore due to Andhra Pradesh during the division of assets. She alleged that the present government has failed to reimburse around ₹50 crore spent on printing free textbooks over the past two years, pushing the Academy into financial distress.