On Monday, the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) accused the TDP government in Andhra Pradesh of expanding media restrictions under the Red Book regulations, escalating tensions in the state legislature.

Since the beginning of the February 24, 2025, assembly session, several news channels have reportedly faced restrictions. The YSRCP, the opposition party in Andhra Pradesh, has been protesting against the government's decision to bar media outlets like Sakshi, NTV, TV9 and 10TV from covering the ongoing budget session of the legislative assembly.

A YSRCP statement revealed that the ban, which originally targeted four media channels, including Sakshi, has now been expanded. The party also claimed that live broadcasts of the Legislative Council sessions have been entirely stopped, with access restricted to media outlets aligned with the government.

The release further states, "Previously, on session days, live video links for both the Assembly and Legislative Council proceedings were shared with all media organisations and the public through the state's Information Department. The citizens could watch these sessions on their mobile phones or other internet-enabled devices. However, with the suspension of the Legislative Council live broadcasts, the public is now denied direct access to these important proceedings."

Also, the YSRCP state office said in a statement, "This is an unprecedented move in the history of the state's legislature. In addition to denying passes to journalists from certain media organisations, the government has now barred them from broadcasting the sessions altogether. No explanation has been given for this decision, nor has the government followed due process before imposing such restrictions. No complaints, inquiries, or prior notices were issued, raising concerns over a blatant disregard for democratic principles and natural justice."

The YSRCP's statement also claimed that specific media outlets have faced deliberate restrictions since the new government took office.

"Since the formation of the coalition government, targeted restrictions have been imposed on certain media houses, extending from the state secretariat to district levels. There are also increasing reports of journalists and media organisations facing harassment through false cases. These actions reflect a concerning trend of media suppression, undermining the fundamental role of the Fourth Estate in democracy," as per the release.