Decode Politics: Why a land survey, titling Act has become Andhra’s hottest poll issue

AMIDST the Andhra Pradesh poll heat, the state Land Titling Act has become the latest flashpoint between the ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) and the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

On May 5, following the instructions of the Election Commission, the Andhra Pradesh CID registered a case against TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and his son and TDP general secretary N Lokesh Naidu for allegedly making “false’’ statements against the Act.

A YSRCP delegation that met the EC alleged that the TDP has started making Interactive Voice Recording calls over which Naidu tells voters to not vote for the YSRCP as its leader and Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy “would take away their wealth” through the Act.

What is the Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Act?

In October 2020, the NITI Aayog, the government’s apex policy think tank, recommended the implementation of a Land Titling Act (LTA) in all states, following this up with a Model Bill on Conclusive Land Titling the next year.

In December 2020, Andhra Pradesh became the first state in the country to start re-surveying of land as part of this, calling it Jagannana Saswatha Bhu Hakku Bhu Rakshana Scheme. A comprehensive resurvey was ordered, to be conducted via drones and geo-tagging.

In August 2022, the YSRCP government passed the Andhra Pradesh Land Titling Act to create a system for maintaining land records and providing a database as per the latest surveys conducted by the government.

As per the Act, everyone owning land or immovable property needed to compulsorily register their property with government agencies, which would issue a permanent title. The Act also provided a new system for speedy property dispute resolution by establishing tribunals.

Has there been any opposition to the Act?

Since the