Businessman and realtor Lingamaneni Ramesh is a well-known figure in the political circles of Andhra Pradesh.
Even among the general public, his name is familiar, as Telugu Desam Party (TDP) president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu resides in Lingamaneni’s bungalow on the banks of the Krishna River.
Lingamaneni is also known for his close ties with key leaders of the Jana Sena Party (JSP), including party chief Pawan Kalyan and senior leader Nadendla Manohar.
It is believed that through Lingamaneni’s influence, the Jana Sena Party acquired land for its party office in Mangalagiri at a significantly low price.
During the Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy regime, Lingamaneni’s businesses faced setbacks, with several cases filed against him, including the Amaravati inner ring road scam and allegations of illegal construction on the Krishna riverbank. His business operations came to a near standstill.
Now, with the TDP-led coalition back in power, Lingamaneni is believed to be regaining influence, with both the TDP and JSP reportedly welcoming his return.
At a recent State Investment Promotion Board (SIPB) meeting chaired by the chief minister, the government approved several projects.
Sources indicate that some of these projects are linked to Lingamaneni’s relatives, raising suspicions that he may be orchestrating these deals behind the scenes.
For example, the government recently cleared the Ecoren Energy India project, which plans to set up a plant in Anantapur with an investment of ₹1,651 crore. The company’s current directors include Lakshmi Prasad Yerneni and Pallavi Chanamolu. Sources reveal that Lakshmi Prasad Yerneni is closely related to Lingamaneni.
Additionally, Kakarla Vinay, who was an additional director at Ecoren Energy India, is now a director in multiple companies under the Lingamaneni Group.
Interestingly, Vinay was also associated with Kadapa Energy Project Private Limited, which recently secured a major project in Andhra Pradesh. This establishes a clear link between several newly approved companies and Lingamaneni’s network.
Experts in the power sector point out that some of these companies lack the financial capacity to execute large-scale projects worth thousands of crores. They often obtain government approvals and then sell off the projects for a profit, using government backing as leverage.
With multiple companies linked to Lingamaneni benefiting from recent government decisions, suspicions of a quid pro quo arrangement are growing. There is also speculation that stakeholders may continue to profit even after selling off these projects.
