YSRCP Launches Statewide Protests in Andhra Pradesh Demanding Rollback of Fuel Price Hike

Amaravati, May 2026 : The YSR Congress Party on Monday launched widespread protests across Andhra Pradesh, demanding an immediate rollback of petrol and diesel price hikes, alleging that the coalition government has failed to honour its pre-election promises and has burdened the common public with rising fuel costs.

The agitation was carried out on the call of party president and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, with party leaders, cadres and supporters organising rallies, dharnas, padayatras and innovative protest demonstrations in nearly all constituencies of the state.

As part of the statewide protest, YSRCP leaders submitted memorandums to district Collectors, Revenue Divisional Officers (RDOs) and Tahsildars, urging the government to immediately reduce fuel prices and provide relief to farmers, transport workers, middle-class families and daily wage earners who, according to them, are facing mounting financial pressure.

The party leaders alleged that the coalition government had betrayed public trust by promising fuel price reductions during the election campaign but subsequently allowing sharp increases in petrol and diesel rates. They warned that rising fuel costs were also triggering inflation in essential commodities, further impacting household budgets across the state.

In Guntur, former minister Ambati Rambabu led a protest and alleged that Andhra Pradesh currently has the highest fuel prices in the country. He also criticised state minister Nara Lokesh, accusing him of backtracking on pre-election assurances related to fuel tax reductions. In a sharp remark, he said Lokesh was “not Love-kesh but Love-Cash,” and warned that the agitation would be intensified if the prices were not rolled back.

In Vijayawada West, former minister Velampalli Srinivasa Rao staged a symbolic protest by pulling an auto-rickshaw with ropes near the Vidyadharapuram Tahsildar office, highlighting the burden on transport workers and daily commuters due to rising fuel costs.

In Vijayawada East, NTR district president Devineni Avinash led a large rally where motorcycles were placed on bullock carts to symbolise the growing financial pressure on ordinary citizens. He accused the coalition government of misleading voters with false promises during the election campaign.

Similar protests were reported across Krishna district, where Devabhaktuni Chakravarthy led a padayatra from Tadigadapa to the municipal office. In Nellore, former minister Kakani Govardhan Reddy and MLC Chandrasekhar Reddy organised a rickshaw rally from Barakasu Centre to the Collectorate. Kakani criticised Nara Lokesh for previously posing for photographs at petrol bunks before elections but remaining silent after fuel prices increased sharply.

In several districts, protest programmes took creative forms. In Railway Koduru, former MLA Koramutla Srinivasulu tied autos to buffaloes and led a rally demanding reduction in petrol, diesel and cooking gas prices. He alleged that Andhra Pradesh had the highest fuel taxation in the country, stating that petrol had reached Rs 113.62 per litre and diesel Rs 101.24 per litre due to VAT and cess imposed by the state government.

In Kothapeta of Konaseema district, YSRCP district president Chirla Jaggireddy rode a cycle rickshaw carrying a motorcycle as part of a symbolic protest against rising fuel prices. In Panyam, former MLA Katasani Ram Bhupal Reddy led a similar demonstration by pulling autos and bullock carts, accusing the government of failing to provide relief despite electoral promises.

Large-scale rallies were also held in Nandyal under the leadership of former MLA Shilpa Ravi Chandra Kishore Reddy and former MP Pocha Brahmananda Reddy. In Udayagiri, Mekapati Rajagopal Reddy led protests, while in Machilipatnam, Perni Kittu rode a cycle rickshaw as part of the demonstration.

In Visakhapatnam, district president KK Raju travelled on a bullock cart to submit a memorandum at the Tahsildar office. In Pulivendula, YSRCP leaders tied ropes to a Bolero vehicle and pulled it through the streets in protest against rising fuel prices.

Former minister Botsa Satyanarayana led a major protest in Cheepurupalli, demanding immediate withdrawal of the fuel price hike. He said rising fuel costs were severely impacting farmers, labourers and middle-class families already struggling with inflation. He reiterated that the YSRCP, under the leadership of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, would continue its struggle on public issues until the government acts.

Team Maverick.