VIJAYAWADA – On a significant Saturday, leaders from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) gathered at their central office near Mangalagiri in Guntur district to commemorate Andhra Pradesh Formation Day. Dignitaries including Srisailam Temple Trust Board member A.V. Ramana, along with TDP NRI wing leader Ch. Rajasekhar, Paruchuri Krishna, and Valluri Kiran, offered heartfelt floral tributes to the revered Potti Sriramulu. They passionately lauded his profound sacrifice, which paved the way for the creation of Andhra Pradesh – a pioneering state formed on a linguistic basis – and urged everyone to uphold the noble ideals he stood for.
Meanwhile, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy extended his warm greetings to the people of Andhra Pradesh, while also paying solemn tributes to Amarajeevi Potti Sriramulu. In a press release, he sharply criticized the state government’s decision not to officially observe Formation Day, calling it a blatant insult to the martyr’s enduring legacy. “This historic day must always be celebrated, transcending political differences, as neglecting it undermines the sacrifices of Potti Sriramulu garu and the inherent pride of the Telugu people,” he asserted.
In a parallel observance, YSRCP leaders gathered at their central office in Tadepalli, where they, too, paid floral tributes to a portrait of Potti Sriramulu. They expressed deep frustration over the current coalition government’s apparent disinterest in holding official celebrations for this momentous occasion.
YSRCP State general secretary and MLC Leella Appi Reddy emphasized that it was Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, followed by Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who consistently restored the day’s significance through official celebrations, ensuring that future generations would always remember the profound sacrifices made for the state’s formation.
Adding to the criticism, former Minister Velampalli Srinivasa Rao lambasted the government for marginalizing Formation Day. He cynically remarked on the irony of collecting funds in Potti Sriramulu’s name for a statue, while simultaneously allocating substantial amounts for monuments honoring other political figures.
Not to be left out, BJP State president P.V.N. Madhav also extended his best wishes to the people of Andhra Pradesh. He reverently acknowledged that the state was forged from Potti Sriramulu’s supreme sacrifice and proudly highlighted Andhra Pradesh’s rich and distinguished cultural heritage.