Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed his ministers to prevent recent local-body election victories from leading to complacency, while setting a target of more than 15 per cent economic growth and ordering regular reviews of essential commodity prices and the state’s GSDP.
Naidu issued the directions during informal discussions with ministers after the weekly Cabinet meeting in Amaravati on Tuesday, according to a report by Deccan Chronicle. He said the ruling alliance’s electoral gains should translate into more effective administration and tangible benefits for residents.
The Chief Minister also said society, panchayat and cooperative elections would be held as scheduled. Cooperative elections are due in January, after which ministers and officials would be expected to shift their full attention towards development and governance, the report said.
Price control was identified as an immediate administrative priority. Naidu said the Cabinet would review the prices of essential commodities and the state’s GSDP at every meeting. While vegetable prices had declined to some extent, he said rice prices also needed to be brought under control to provide relief to consumers and keep essential goods affordable.
Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar said rice was being sold at reduced prices through Rythu Bazaars. The measure is intended to provide relief to consumers as the state government seeks to link its growth agenda with welfare delivery and household affordability.
Naidu asked ministers to work towards an economic growth rate exceeding 15 per cent. He also referred to Andhra Pradesh’s second position in AEI and said a quantum computer would be inaugurated on February 3. The Prime Minister had been invited to attend the inauguration, according to the report.
Investment mobilisation was another focus of the discussions. Naidu directed all ministers to attend the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam, where investment agreements worth nearly Rs 11 lakh crore were expected to be signed. These agreements were projected to generate around 11 lakh jobs. The Chief Minister said the state had secured investments worth Rs 31 lakh crore so far, with the potential to create 25 lakh employment opportunities.
The figures place investment announcements and employment generation at the centre of the state’s development strategy. Their eventual impact will depend on the implementation of projects, the conversion of agreements into operating investments and the government’s ability to maintain basic affordability while pursuing rapid growth. The report did not provide further details on the projects or their implementation timelines.
Energy Minister Gottipati Ravi Kumar separately thanked electricity personnel from Karnataka and Telangana for helping restore power after cyclones Arnab and Murasu. The reference placed power restoration alongside price monitoring, elections and investment promotion in the government’s immediate administrative agenda.
The next stated milestones are the January cooperative elections, the CII Partnership Summit in Visakhapatnam and the scheduled February 3 inauguration of the quantum computer.
