Visakhapatnam, Aug. 23 -- The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Sunday alleged "collusion" between the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government over the proposed privatisation of the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.

Former Andhra Pradesh Minister and YSRCP leader Gudivada Amarnadh alleged that decisions taken by the NDA governments at the Centre and in the state over the last two and a half years had resulted in a significant reduction in the plant's workforce.

He further alleged that since June 2024, nearly 6,500 contract employees had been laid off, while around 8,000 to 9,000 permanent employees had left through voluntary retirement or age-based retirement.

"Since the last two and a half years, the decisions taken by the NDA government in the...