YSRCP Launches One-Crore Signature Campaign Against Medical College Privatization in Andhra Pradesh

Amaravati, Oct 2025 : The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), Andhra Pradesh’s main opposition, on Friday launched a massive one-crore signature campaign demanding the rollback of the privatization of medical colleges by the TDP-led coalition government.

The campaign comes a day after YSRCP president and former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy led a massive protest at Narsipatnam in Anakapalli district, signaling strong public support against the state government’s move.

On Friday, the party organized “Rachabanda” programmes across all 175 constituencies, unveiling posters to promote the signature drive. The campaign, which will continue until November 22, aims to highlight what the party calls the neglect and failures of the Chandrababu Naidu-led government in healthcare and medical education.

As part of the agitation plan, constituency-level rallies are scheduled for October 28, followed by district-level rallies and memorandum submissions on November 12. Signature sheets collected from constituencies will move to district centers on November 23 and subsequently be transported to Vijayawada. On November 24, the collected signatures will be consolidated at the party headquarters, and on November 25, under the leadership of Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, one crore signatures will be formally submitted to the Governor.

The YSRCP has appealed to intellectuals, civil society organizations, and other political parties to actively participate in the campaign, emphasizing the need for a broad-based public movement.

Former Minister Gudivada Amarnath said the overwhelming support during Jagan Mohan Reddy’s Narsipatnam tour reflects the solidarity of people for the campaign against privatization of medical colleges. “The people have endorsed our stand against privatization and expressed concern over access to medical care and education for poorer sections of society,” he added.

Amarnath, along with YSRCP leader K.K. Raju, highlighted that the previous YSRCP government prioritized public health, establishing 17 medical colleges, with seven already operational. They criticized Chandrababu Naidu for shifting these colleges to a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, which primarily benefits private players.

The leaders warned that under the PPP model, even free seats could become unaffordable, increasing the cost of medical education and healthcare for the poorer sections of society. They cautioned that corporatization of medical colleges would make medicare expensive and exploit vulnerable communities, undermining equitable access to healthcare in the state.

The campaign underscores YSRCP’s commitment to public healthcare and signals growing political mobilization against the privatization policy of the TDP government.