Amaravati, September 2026 : Andhra Pradesh Education Minister Nara Lokesh on Thursday hit back at YSRCP chief and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy over allegations concerning the Mega District Selection Committee (DSC) teacher recruitment process, challenging him to stop the recruitment if he could.
In a video message posted on social media, Lokesh accused Jagan of making allegations without understanding the distinction between DSC and APPSC recruitment. He said the previous YSRCP government failed to fill even a single teacher post through DSC during its five-year tenure.
In contrast, Lokesh said, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu signed the DSC file immediately after taking oath, resulting in the recruitment of around 16,000 teachers under the present TDP-led government.
Lokesh also alleged that the previous government and its supporters made repeated attempts to halt the recruitment process through legal action.
Key Points
- Around 16,000 teacher posts have been filled through DSC under the present government, Lokesh said.
- He alleged that no teacher posts were filled through DSC during the previous YSRCP government's five-year tenure.
- Lokesh claimed nearly 300 cases were filed seeking to stop the recruitment.
- He said attempts were also made to seek a CBI inquiry, but the courts rejected the challenges.
- The minister announced plans to conduct DSC recruitment every year.
- Around 3,000 teachers will be recruited annually, with a target of nearly 30,000 teachers in five years.
- The next DSC notification will be issued soon, he said.
Lokesh claimed that nearly 300 cases had been filed in an attempt to stop the DSC process and that an MLC had also sought a CBI inquiry. According to the minister, the courts rejected the attempts and found no wrongdoing on the government's part.
He said officials of the Education Department had already responded to the allegations during a press conference, but accused Jagan of continuing to raise the issue.
The minister also warned against attempts by what he described as opposition-linked journalists to pressure or target teachers working in government schools. He said strict action would be taken against anyone found attacking or intimidating educators.
Lokesh also referred to the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu around three years ago in connection with alleged irregularities in a skill development scheme. Naidu was arrested at midnight and spent 53 days in jail.
According to Lokesh, subsequent judicial proceedings resulted in a clean chit for Naidu, while regulatory authorities found no evidence of corruption or illegal financial benefit to Naidu, his family or the Telugu Desam Party.
Turning to his government's recruitment plans, Lokesh said his commitment to annual DSC examinations was rooted in his interactions with unemployed youth during the Yuva Galam padayatra.
He said he had personally witnessed the difficulties faced by unemployed young people and therefore wanted teacher recruitment to become a regular exercise.
"I met unemployed youth during the Yuva Galam padayatra and understood their problems. That is why I am determined to conduct DSC every year," Lokesh said.
He said the government plans to recruit around 3,000 teachers every year, aiming to appoint nearly 30,000 teachers over the five-year term of the government.
Challenging Jagan to prevent the recruitment, Lokesh said he would not abandon the government's commitment to unemployed youth.
He further announced that the next DSC notification would be released soon, urging aspiring candidates to use the opportunity to prepare thoroughly and appear for the examination sincerely.
Lokesh also appealed to successful candidates to approach the teaching profession with dedication and become effective educators, saying their contribution would be important in strengthening government schools across Andhra Pradesh.
The minister's remarks come amid a political confrontation between the ruling TDP-led government and the YSRCP over recruitment, education policy and the functioning of government schools. While Lokesh defended the DSC process and his government's recruitment record, he accused the previous administration of failing to address teacher vacancies during its tenure.
