Senior leaders of India’s YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) have intensified their attack on the coalition government in Andhra Pradesh, alleging that illegal gambling operations continue to function openly with political backing. Speaking separately at the party’s central office in Tadepalli, YSRCP spokespersons cited by ysrcongress.com accused senior ministers and law enforcement agencies of allowing casinos and card clubs to operate despite repeated complaints and reported police action.
The allegations center on gambling hubs operating near Agiripalli in Eluru district, which opposition leaders claim have drawn participants from across Andhra Pradesh and neighboring Telangana. According to the YSRCP, these operations have persisted for months without meaningful intervention, raising questions about accountability within the government.
Claims of a Gambling Hub Operating in the Open
YSR Congress Party State Official Spokesperson Putta Siva Shankar Reddy focused attention on Mango Recreation Club, located on the outskirts of Pothavarappadu in Agiripalli Mandal under the Nuzvid Assembly constituency. Addressing the media, he asked which minister was responsible for the operation and why complaints from local residents had gone unanswered for nearly 18 months.
Reddy said the club functioned on a Goa-style token system, separating gamblers into spending categories of Rs. 10,000, Rs. 50,000, Rs. 1 lakh, and Rs. 5 lakh. He alleged that the organizers attracted players from Telangana by extending large lines of credit and by allowing the exchange of cash for tokens in full public view. According to him, the operators even threatened police personnel, claimed to possess High Court permissions, and placed signboards at the venue, actions he described as a direct challenge to the rule of law.
Referring to reported enforcement action, Reddy said police raids had resulted in the seizure of crores of rupees in cash along with more than 120 cars and 50 motorcycles. He alleged that the incident received no coverage from what he termed the “yellow media,” which he said deepened suspicions of political influence.
Reddy demanded explanations from the minister representing Nuzvid, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and Home Minister Anitha. He also questioned why a 108 ambulance was stationed at the gambling site and called on authorities to allow journalists to inspect the premises and release details of Telugu Desam Party leaders allegedly detained during raids. He warned that the YSRCP would organize large-scale protests if illegal gambling centers were not shut down across the state.
Direct Allegations Against a Cabinet Minister
YSRCP State Official Spokesperson Vangaveeti Narendra expanded the criticism by accusing the coalition government of allowing Andhra Pradesh to turn into a “drugs den.” Speaking at the party’s central office, he alleged that narcotics, ganja, and gambling operations were flourishing while authorities remained inactive.
Narendra named Minister Parthasarathy, accusing him and close associates of running a major casino near Agiripalli for nearly eight months. He said gamblers from Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Hyderabad, and Khammam visited the venue daily, depositing cash and receiving tokens openly. Narendra alleged that the minister received regular commissions from the operation and called for his immediate removal from the Cabinet.
He also criticized law enforcement priorities, claiming police were being used to harass YSRCP leaders instead of addressing public safety. Narendra questioned the Home Minister’s silence on the spread of drugs, including MDMA, and dismissed government claims of effective control measures.
Raids, Media Silence, and Political Fallout
Narendra cited a recent police raid at the Agiripalli casino, which he said uncovered 280 people, Rs 50 lakh in cash, 120 cars, and 50 two-wheelers. According to him, the lack of media reporting on the raid showed that journalists were under pressure from political figures.
To contrast the current situation, Narendra referred to the tenure of former Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy. He credited the Special Enforcement Bureau with destroying ganja crops across 11,500 acres and providing alternative livelihoods worth Rs 500 crore to tribal communities. He criticized the decision to dismantle the SEB and replace it with the EAGLE unit, which he described as ineffective and lacking operational strength.
Across their statements, YSRCP leaders said the allegations highlighted a widening political divide in the Indian state. They argued that the government’s response to organized gambling and drug trafficking would determine its commitment to protecting public welfare. Both Reddy and Narendra said the party would pursue legal remedies and public demonstrations if authorities failed to act against those allegedly providing protection to illegal gambling networks.
