Former Andhra Pradesh minister Balineni Srinivas Reddy, who recently quit the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) to join the Jana Sena Party, has made explosive allegations against YSRCP president and Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The claims come amidst accusations of bribery involving the power purchase agreement with the Solar Energy Corporation of India (SECI), in which the Adani Group holds stakes.
While the YSRCP has strongly defended its agreement with SECI to purchase 7,000 MW of power at an estimated cost of ₹1.05 lakh crore over 25 years, Balineni told a Telugu television channel on Friday night that the deal was rushed through without following due procedure.
Balineni, who was the energy minister at the time the agreement was signed, revealed that he had refused to sign the deal as it seemed dubious.
He recalled being woken up at 1 a.m. by then Energy Secretary N. Srikanth, who urged him to approve the SECI deal without any prior consultation.
"Sensing something was wrong, I refused to sign the agreement as there was no clarity and no proper discussion on the matter," Balineni stated.
Despite his refusal, the proposal was approved the next day in a Cabinet meeting, bypassing his involvement.
"The deal was orchestrated without consulting me. I didn’t sign a single document. The entire process was managed by a senior minister under Jagan's guidance," he alleged.
Experts have previously criticized the Jagan-led government for failing to conduct due diligence before finalizing the deal.
Srikanth defended the agreement during a press briefing in November 2021, stating that SECI’s ₹2.49 per unit rate was competitive compared to other bids for solar energy projects in Andhra Pradesh.
He also argued that the agreement adhered to the Central Electricity Act and did not require additional scrutiny through reverse tendering or judicial review.
Balineni's revelations have ignited a political firestorm, with opposition parties accusing the Jagan government of prioritizing personal gains over the welfare of the state.
The disclosures have also exposed internal rifts within the YSRCP, further weakening the government’s defense of the controversial power deal.
