VIJAYAWADA — In a forceful defense of the state's massive teacher recruitment drive, Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh on Saturday asserted that the DSC-2025 process was conducted with complete transparency and impartiality. He didn't mince words when condemning the opposition YSR Congress Party's campaign against the recruitment, accusing them of actively working against the interests of unemployed youth.

Key facts

  • YSRCP filed 335 petitions in Andhra Pradesh High Court regarding recruitment
  • Government filled all 16,347 teaching posts in record 148 days
  • Bridge included as recognized sport in recruitment criteria
  • Selection based on merit, category, roster system, and horizontal reservations

A Political Battle in Court

The minister revealed a startling number — 335 petitions filed by the YSRCP in the High Court. His voice carried both frustration and defiance as he described these legal challenges as intentional obstacles "preventing unemployed youth from securing jobs." The tension between the ruling party and opposition was palpable in his remarks.

Court Questions Opposition's Motives

Durgesh pointed to a particular Public Interest Litigation filed by a YSRCP MLC that backfired spectacularly. The High Court, he noted with evident satisfaction, questioned why the party was intervening when no affected candidates had approached the court themselves. "The High Court's observation is a slap in the face of the YSRCP," he told reporters, the words hanging in the air like a verdict.

Record Speed and Full Transparency

The minister detailed how the new government hit the ground running. The first file Chief Minister signed after taking office? The DSC notification. What followed was a whirlwind 148 days that saw all 16,347 teaching positions filled — a record pace that speaks to the administration's priority on education staffing.

Every step was laid bare for public scrutiny: notification documents, merit lists, answer keys, and grievance-redressal details all available online. The selection process considered not just merit rank but also categories, post availability, roster systems, and horizontal reservations for women, persons with disabilities, sportspersons, and ex-servicemen.

The Bridge Controversy

Addressing the eyebrow-raising inclusion of bridge as a recognized sport, Durgesh stood firm. He reminded critics that bridge enjoys recognition from both the International Olympic Committee and the Olympic Council of Asia. The accusation against YSRCP leaders? Creating controversy without understanding the sport's significance.

His final warning carried the weight of political consequence: if the opposition continues making baseless allegations, the people themselves will deliver the appropriate response.