Vijayawada: Former MLA T.J.R. Sudhakar Babu strongly criticised Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for focusing on publicity even in the midst of the recent floods that submerged Vijayawada. Speaking at the press conference in Tadepalli here on Friday, Sudhakar Babu said the CM was prioritising his political image over the suffering of the flood victims.The former MLA added that Naidu’s frequent tours with large groups were hindering relief efforts and not addressing the real needs of the victims. Sudhakar Babu highlighted that the Budameru stream, which caused the flooding, has become a curse on Vijayawada, due to the negligence of Naidu. He stressed that during Naidu’s previous tenure, the modernisation of the Budameru Diversion Channel (BDC) was ignored, which could have prevented the disaster. He added that Naidu’s failure to act on the Budameru project has directly contributed to the damage.Sudhakar Babu also questioned the absence of flood mitigation efforts at upstream reservoirs like Srisailam, Nagarjunasagar, and Pulichintala. Despite a 20-hour window before the Budameru floodwaters reached Vijayawada, no precautions were taken, and no relief camps were set up, he alleged. He held Naidu accountable for the loss of lives and property, pointing out that 47 people have been reported dead, but the actual toll could be higher. He called on Naidu to stop his obsession with publicity and take responsibility for the flood victims in Vijayawada. He demanded an apology from the Chief Minister for his role in the disaster. He questioned Naidu’s ability to continue as Chief Minister, given the magnitude of the current crisis.
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