During his days in the opposition, Chandrababu Naidu had promised not to allow bauxite mining.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu is literally mining trouble in the tribal hills of Andhra Pradesh -- home to 18 per cent of the country's bauxite reserves.
Mr Naidu, who had earlier promised not to allow bauxite mining, has done a U-turn, inviting wrath not only of locals but also left-wing extremists. Even his party leaders in the area are not too happy.
Bauxite mining damages local groundwater resources and environmentalists allege that the government order issued last week -- allowing mining on 3,000 acres of forest land Visakhapatnam's forest belt violates tribal and forest laws.
Now Maoists have reportedly threatened Panchayat Raj Minister Ayyana Patrudu and several other TDP leaders. With panic ruling the area, security forces have been put on high alert, mainly in the agency areas.
Last month, three TDP leaders were kidnapped by Maoists, who demanded the TDP government must say no to bauxite mining. Mr Naidu had said the abductions were not justified, since the government had not taken any decision to go ahead with the mining.
This time, the fear factor is so high that government employees and teachers working in the area have reportedly said they will go on leave. Posters have come up in the area that reads, "If you mess with our hills, we will retaliate, we warn you!" Others allege that Mr Naidu has "backstabbed" the people and demand that the government withdraw the order.
Opposition parties point out that Mr Naidu has done the U-turn after promising not to allow bauxite mining in his election manifesto. CPI leader Nani asked how the government even issued orders allowing mining by the same company that Mr Naidu opposed when he was in the Opposition two years ago.
Local TDP leaders are supporting the stand taken by the tribals. YSR Congress lawmaker from Araku, Vishweshwar Rao, alleged that the Telugu Desam was backstabbing the tribals.
"Mr Naidu gave a letter to the governor as opposition leader opposing this very mining. Now he is going ahead with it. Why?" he said.