At present, the only region in Andhra Pradesh that appears relatively peaceful is Rayalaseema.
Yes, the same Rayalaseema that was once known for bomb blasts, factionalism, and chronic instability several decades ago.
Today, there are no such visible signs of violence, and people in the region are largely living in peace and progressing at a personal level.
This does not mean that there is significant development taking place in Rayalaseema. There is no large-scale economic or infrastructural growth to speak of.
However, people seem content and largely unconcerned about what is happening in Amaravati or Visakhapatnam.
One major reason for this is Rayalaseema’s strategic location. Hyderabad is close to Kurnool, Bengaluru is easily accessible from Anantapur, and Chittoor lies close to both Chennai and Bengaluru.
Due to this geographical advantage, people have access to better education and employment opportunities outside the state, reducing their dependence on local development.
On the other hand, the worst-affected region at present is the Palnadu region. People are migrating in large numbers to other places fearing unrest.
Those who question the misdeeds of ruling party leaders are allegedly threatened and treated like second-class citizens.
Krishna, Guntur, and Prakasam districts are witnessing unrest, violence, and intense political conflicts. Political leaders in these regions appear deeply entrenched in feuds, resembling the earlier unrest once associated with Rayalaseema.
In Uttarandhra, people are protesting against incoming industries that are perceived as pollution-prone and posing environmental threats.
The shocking aspect that has upset people in the Visakhapatnam region is that huge lands are being allotted to private entities at zero cost, almost like free land distribution, in the name of encouraging industrial investments.
Moreover, the government is not examining whether the industries being set up will cause pollution or create environmental hazards. This is causing huge unrest in the region.
Meanwhile, the people of East and West Godavari districts are suffering due to issues like marijuana trade and betting, with no visible development taking place anywhere in the region.
Taken together, these differences between regions show that there is a deeper problem in the way the state is being governed.
Development, peace, and public welfare cannot continue when power is held by only one side, people are threatened, or opposing voices are ignored.
Democracy works properly only when power is balanced and all regions are governed in a fair and responsible manner.
The growing unrest in many parts of the state shows that people are losing trust in the government. If this situation is not corrected, it may lead to serious social and economic problems in the long run.
Kiran Sharma