Jagan waxes philosophical after ignominious defeat, says will rise once again

“God knows what has happened. I cannot say anything or do anything about it,” he said, referring to the results of the elections and implying mischief in the electoral process, but he was not very explicit.

He, however, said that despite the efforts of the TDP-led alliance in the state, the coalition could not erode his vote bank beyond 40 percent.

“From here I will rise and fight on behalf of the poor and disadvantaged. I am ready for any difficulty that might come my way,” he said, suggesting that he may have to face “vindictive” politics from the new dispensation.

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‘I know what pain is’

YS Jagan Mohan Reddy put on an artificial smile now and then while speaking to reporters on Tuesday.

He said that being in the Opposition was not new to him. “In fact, during most of my political life, I was in the Opposition,” he said.

“I had been through trials and tribulations no one ever has. I know what pain is. I am not worried about being in the opposition. I will continue to fight,” he said.

He refrained from saying anything against either TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu or Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan. In fact, he conveyed his best wishes to them on their success in the elections.

“This alliance has very big leaders. There is BJP, Chandrababu Naidu, and Pawan Kalyan. My congratulations to them,” he said.

He mostly dwelt on the welfare schemes that he implemented. “I do not know what happened to those who spoke endearing words to me whenever I reached them benefits under various welfare schemes. I do not know what has happened,” he said.

“I distributed ₹2.6 lakh crore to them, yet I do not understand why they did not show gratitude to me,” he said.

He said that he did not foresee this kind of result, which he admitted was a surprise to him. “I benefited crores of people. I did a lot of good to them — unparalleled in the state’s history. The election result came as a big Suprise to me,” he said.

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Welfare didn’t fare well?

Jagan said he rolled out schemes in his five-year rule that no one ever had in the past. “I was with the people when they were facing difficulties in their day-to-day life,” he said.

“For the elderly and aged, I sent the benefits of the welfare schemes directly to their doorsteps. For this, I evolved a system. I do not know why they did not reciprocate the love I shown them,” said the YSRCP chief.

He recalled helping more than half a crore farmers with money through the Rythu Bharosa scheme.

“I gave them input subsidy to help them raise crops and provided them insurance, whose premium the government paid. Yet there was no reciprocation,” said Jagan.

He said that unlike other leaders, for him the party manifesto was like the Bible, Quran, and Bhagwad Gita.

“I implemented 99 percent of the promises made in our party’s manifesto. I was sincere in keeping my promise,” claimed Jagan.

He also recalled introducing English medium in schools despite opposition to ensure that children would have an education in English so that they would stand a better chance in life.

Jagan also wondered why women did not show him the same affection at the time of voting that they showed when he infused ₹1.05 crore into their self-help groups (SHGs).

“I considered their difficulties as mine and stood by them,” he said, also pointing out that he covered almost all sections of society under welfare schemes while “revolutionising school education in the state”, and yet he failed to get the support of the people, he said.

(Edited by Arkadev Ghoshal)