YSR Congress Party’s Parvatipuram-Manyam district president Sathrucharla Parikshit Raju warned that privatising 18 newly built medical colleges in Andhra Pradesh will harm students from Backward Classes, Scheduled Castes, and tribal communities. "Their parents will not be able to afford medical education if private management takes over," he said. On Monday, Mr. Raju, former deputy chief minister Pamula Pushpa Srivani, former MLA Alajangi Jogarao, and other leaders joined a protest rally in Parvatipuram against the privatisation move. Mr. Raju spoke about the party's ‘one crore signature’ campaign, which has gained strong public support. He said people understand the value of government-run medical colleges that will soon have superspecialty hospitals. Ms. Srivani and Mr. Jogarao added that privatisation would reduce convener quota seats and increase payments seats under B and C categories. This will raise medical education costs, impacting poor and middle-class families. Despite police restrictions, YSRCP held large protests in Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts to oppose the move.