The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) launched widespread protests across Andhra Pradesh on Tuesday, demanding the resignation of state education minister Nara Lokesh over alleged irregularities in the 2025 teacher recruitment process known as Mega DSC-2025. Demonstrations took place in major districts including Vijayawada, Nellore, Tirupati, Nandyal and others, with participants from the party’s student and youth wings leading the efforts. The protests followed claims of systemic flaws in the recruitment process, including allegations of leaked question papers, improper appointments under the sports quota and exclusion of qualified candidates. Protesters gathered in Vijayawada, marching from Sambamurthy Nagar to Dharna Chowk, with prominent figures such as YSRCP NTR district president Devineni Avinash, former minister Vellampalli Srinivas and former MLA Malladi Vishnu participating. In Nellore, hundreds of students and young activists marched from the Dr B R Ambedkar statue to Gandhi Bomma Centre, demanding Lokesh’s resignation and justice for unemployed youth. The protest was led by former ministers and local leaders, including Kakani Govardhan Reddy and Sanjeevaiah. In Tirupati, former minister R K Roja led similar demonstrations, accusing the government of leaking exam materials and making irregular appointments under the sports quota. In Nandyal, senior YSRCP leaders and community members joined forces to stage a rally, calling for accountability and transparency. The YSRCP accused the TDP-led government of failing to address repeated calls for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the recruitment process. The party claimed that the Mega DSC-2025 initiative, which was widely publicised, was undermined by procedural violations. According to the YSRCP, the number of students enrolled in government schools has dropped by over 5.5 lakh in the last two years, contradicting the government’s assertion that 1.1 lakh students had shifted from private to public institutions. The party also highlighted ongoing issues such as delayed textbook distribution, non-implementation of the Vidya Kanuka programme and exclusion of nearly 22.6 lakh children from the Talliki Vandanam welfare scheme, which provides financial assistance to school-going children. Additionally, the YSRCP demanded the reinstatement of key welfare schemes, including full fee reimbursement for students and the restoration of the Vasathi Deevena programme. They also called for the payment of the promised ₹ 3,000 monthly unemployment allowance to eligible youth. YSRCP leaders argued that these measures were necessary to protect public education and ensure fair treatment for students and unemployed individuals. Former minister K Govardhan Reddy accused the government of turning the “Mega DSC” into a “Daga DSC,” claiming that the process was marred by cheating and inconsistent rules affecting aspiring teachers. TDP officials responded by rejecting the YSRCP’s allegations, asserting that the recruitment process was transparent and had been validated by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. A TDP spokesperson, N Vijay, described the protests as “factually misleading” and a “politically desperate act.” He defended the government’s actions, stating that the Mega DSC process met legal standards and that any call for Lokesh’s resignation must be backed by concrete evidence of wrongdoing. Despite the TDP’s stance, YSRCP leaders continued to push for accountability, citing the need for a CBI investigation and greater oversight of educational policies. As tensions escalated, some protests faced resistance from law enforcement. At Narasannapeta, police reportedly intervened to halt a rally led by Dharmana Krishna Chaitanya, prompting the YSRCP to accuse authorities of suppressing democratic expression. Meanwhile, former minister R K Roja drew parallels between the current administration and the previous YSRCP government, which she claimed successfully appointed 1.3 lakh individuals to government jobs through transparent and merit-based processes. She criticised the current government for failing to complete even 16,000 appointments fairly and warned that new irregularities continue to emerge daily.
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