YS Jagan Favourite To Win Next Elections
Kommineni Srinivasa Rao
Hearty wishes to Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Assembly and YSR Congress party (YSRCP) President YS Jagan Mohan Reddy on his birthday. He is readying for the real war after breaking records with his padayatra which spanned for more than a year. YS Jagan deserved to be commended for managing to traverse through various hindrances and difficulties posed by Chandrababu Naidu.
It is because of YS Jagan that Chandrababu hurried up to forge an alliance with the Congress even though he is in power. In a way, YS Jagan is the reason behind Chandrababu’s fear of loss in elections and his subsequent friendship with the Congress. From being part of an alliance with the BJP in 2014, Chandrababu was reached a stage where he had no option but to befriend Rahul Gandhi, who was abused by the TDP chief on several occasions.
In the context of YS Jagan’s election as MP from Kadapa in 2009 and thereafter, the sudden death of his father, late Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the Opposition leader never compromised on the interests of his party and the sentiments of his family. After pulling out of the then ruling Congress party, YS Jagan was re-elected to the Parliament in bye-election.
Upon facing several roadblocks in the form being put in his path by the Congress leaders during his Odarpu Yatra, a journey to console families of those who had lost lives following the sudden death of Dr YSR, YS Jagan was determined to reach out to all the families come what may. Later, YS Vijayamma also resigned to her post and got re-elected from Pulivendula after the YSR Congress party (YSRCP) was formed. It reflects the ethical values of a party, which insists on resignation of any MLA who wants to join the party.
On the other side, Chandrababu Naidu accepted 23 YSRCP MLAs into TDP, four of whom were given ministerial berths. It should be said that the Congress was compelled to play a neutral role when YSRCP moved a no-confidence motion against the Chandrababu government. Also, the YSRCP chief was undeterred even after the Congress and TDP colluded to foist false cases against him.
Probably, YS Jagan is the youngest to have run the Opposition amid so many obstacles. While maintaining political ethics, he has fought against the TDP’s irregularities. Chandrababu Naidu gave up the demand for resignation of the TDP MLAs who defected to the TRS whereas YS Jagan went all guns blazing against the defection of 23 YSRCP MLAs to TDP.
Despite Chandrababu’s schemes and conspiracies, the mass leader ran the Opposition effectively for four years. YS Jagan had always been firm on his stance on the demand for Special Category Status (SCS). But, Chandrababu, after changing his stance in favour of the special package, took a U-turn for the SCS, all because of the YSRCP chief. He was also responsible for the TDP’s pullout from the NDA, with his constant criticism on the failure of the alliance.
It was not a smooth affair to have managed to win 67 seats despite the union of Narendra Modi of BJP, Chandrababu’s TDP and Pawan Kalyan. It was only because of some internal reasons and YS Jagan’s firm decision to make only promises which are implementable, that the YSRCP lost in 2014.
Now, YS Jagan is getting ready for the real battle. With the Navarathnalu (YSRCP poll manifesto) drafted with the feedback and assistance from thousands of farmers, YSRCP is making strides in the right direction. After the padayatra began from Dr YSR’s statue in Idupulapaya an year ago, it is about to reach Ichchapuram. This will remain etched in AP’s history.
On the lines of Dr. YSR’s padayatra, YS Jagan interacted with lakhs of people across the State while providing immediate support to scores of people all along his journey. It would be another challenge to secure a win in the next elections.
Therefore, YS Jagan should chase Chandrababu’s antics while gaining public support in the next elections. As things stand, it appears YS Jagan’s victory is imminent. All the best to YS Jagan.
