YSRCP Protests Across Andhra Pradesh Demand Lokesh’s Resignation Over DSC-2025 Row

However, the ruling TDP strongly condemned the protests, accusing the opposition party of attempting to politicise the "Mega DSC" recruitment process despite the Andhra Pradesh High Court upholding the recruitment drive.

The demonstrations, organised by the opposition party's youth and student wings, were held at district and constituency headquarters across the state. According to the YSRCP, the recruitment exercise conducted under the banner of "Mega DSC" was marred by irregularities.

“The Mega DSC recruitment was heavily publicised, but it was marred by irregularities. The Education Minister should accept moral responsibility and resign. The Centre should order a CBI inquiry into the recruitment process,” the party said in a press release.

The YSRCP also alleged that student enrolment in government schools has declined by more than 5.5 lakh over the past two years. It dismissed the government's claim that 1.1 lakh students had migrated from private to public schools as “misleading.”

Further, the party claimed that essential textbooks have yet to reach several schools despite the academic year having commenced more than a month ago. It also alleged that the Vidya Kanuka programme has not been implemented this year.

Additionally, the YSRCP alleged that more than 22.6 lakh beneficiaries have been excluded from the ‘Talliki Vandanam’ scheme, which provides ₹15,000 per annum for every school-going child. The opposition also demanded the implementation of full fee reimbursement, restoration of the Vasathi Deevena scheme, and payment of the promised ₹3,000 monthly unemployment allowance to eligible youth.

YSRCP leaders said the statewide protests were aimed at safeguarding public education, government schools, and the interests of students while urging the state government to address the concerns raised by the opposition.

Meanwhile, YSRCP leader RK Roja accused the TDP-led government of ignoring repeated demands for a CBI probe despite protests by unemployed DSC aspirants. Roja contrasted the current administration with the previous YSRCP government, stating that it had recruited 1.3 lakh people into permanent government jobs transparently and on merit. She alleged that the present government had failed to complete even 16,000 appointments fairly.

“Fresh instances of irregularities are emerging every day, including in the sports quota, and several affected candidates have already approached the courts,” Roja alleged.

She further stated that YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had repeatedly questioned the government over the alleged irregularities during the past two months, but Lokesh had failed to respond.

Referring to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over the NEET controversy, Roja said Lokesh should also accept moral responsibility, resign, and face a CBI probe into DSC-2025.

Echoing her allegations, former minister K Govardhan Reddy claimed that the widely publicised “Mega DSC” had turned into “Daga DSC,” accusing the government of cheating unemployed youth. He further alleged that while moral responsibility had been accepted at the Centre, the Andhra Pradesh government had failed to answer questions raised over the alleged DSC-2025 recruitment irregularities.

Responding to the protests, TDP spokesperson N Vijay dismissed the demonstrations as “factually misleading” and a “politically desperate act.”

Defending the recruitment process, Vijay said, “The Mega DSC recruitment process was transparent and was upheld by the Andhra Pradesh High Court despite several complaints filed before and after the recruitment drive.”

He maintained that any demand for a minister's resignation should be based on proven misconduct, material evidence, adverse judicial observations, or court judgments relating to the recruitment process.

Vijay alleged that the YSRCP was attempting to manufacture a controversy despite the absence of evidence of widespread irregularities. He claimed that the DSC examination was conducted without any paper leak, with complete transparency, strict adherence to national protocols, and robust security measures for more than 3.5 lakh aspirants.

He also pointed out that the Andhra Pradesh High Court found no merit in multiple petitions alleging malpractice, dismissed the complaints, and allowed the recruitment process to proceed.

According to Vijay, continuing to demand Lokesh’s resignation despite the High Court’s verdict reflects the YSRCP’s disregard for the judiciary.

The TDP leader further alleged that while the previous government failed to fill even a single teaching post during its five-year tenure, the NDA government is providing jobs to more than 3.5 lakh aspirants through a transparent and lawful recruitment process. The political confrontation over the DSC-2025 recruitment process continues as both parties remain sharply divided over the allegations and the High Court-backed recruitment drive.