Jagan Spent ₹220 Crore on Helicopter Rides? Lokesh Alleges Extravagance

Amaravati: A fresh political controversy has erupted in Andhra Pradesh over the travel expenses of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. According to IT Minister Nara Lokesh, Jagan spent an estimated ₹220 crore solely on helicopter rides during his five-year tenure.

Addressing the media, Lokesh claimed that the average cost of each of Jagan’s visits was nearly ₹7 crore, whereas former CM Chandrababu Naidu’s expenditure per visit was only about ₹25 lakh.

Lokesh further explained that while Chandrababu is expected to spend around ₹100 crore on official tours over the next five years, Jagan had already exhausted more than double that amount just on helicopter travel. He pointed out that Naidu has already undertaken more public visits in the last 15 months than Jagan did in his entire term, despite spending significantly less.

The Minister alleged that this difference highlights the contrast between Chandrababu’s economical and efficient governance and Jagan’s extravagant style.

This revelation comes at a time when the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) has been accusing Chandrababu, Lokesh, and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan of frequently traveling to Hyderabad. Lokesh countered that narrative, stating that it was Jagan who drained the exchequer through excessive helicopter usage, while the present government is demonstrating a more practical and cost-effective approach.