Published Oct 15, 2026 | 10:19 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 15, 2026 | 10:19 PM
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy
Synopsis: While some welcomed Jagan’s support for the CJP and, by default, the Opposition INDIA bloc, others remained sceptical of his intentions, especially after a special CBI court in Hyderabad ordered daily hearings on asset cases filed against him. Sceptics also recalled the Directorate of Enforcement’s probe into the source of ₹40 crore linked to the alleged conspiracy that led to the 2019 murder of YSRCP leader and Jagan’s uncle, YS Vivekananda Reddy.
YSRCP president and Andhra Pradesh’s former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s recent overtures to the youth-fuelled agitation in India have raised eyebrows.
Despite his nemesis, N Chandrababu Naidu, leading an NDA government in Andhra Pradesh that includes the BJP, Jagan has often chosen not to take on the BJP. His decision to either back the BJP or refrain from opposing its decisions has often invited criticism. But in a move that is a departure from his calculated balancing act, Jagan has expressed public support for the anti-SIR protests, specifically leaders of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) who courted arrest.
The move comes as public anger against the Election Commission of India (ECI) and Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar has also engulfed the Narendra Modi government. Dissenting groups, including youth, civil society members and Opposition parties, have started asking pointed questions to NDA’s key allies like JDU chief Nitish Kumar and TDP’s Chandrababu Naidu. Sensing dissent in the air, Jagan has seized the moment to back young protesters.
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His rare public stance has also divided opinions. While some welcomed Jagan’s support for the CJP and, by default, the Opposition INDIA bloc, others remained sceptical of his intentions, especially after a special CBI court in Hyderabad ordered daily hearings on asset cases filed against him. Sceptics also recalled the Directorate of Enforcement’s probe into the source of ₹40 crore linked to the alleged conspiracy that led to the 2019 murder of YSRCP leader and Jagan’s uncle, YS Vivekananda Reddy.
Founded in 2011 after splitting from the Indian National Congress, the YSRCP has recently made public comments that suggest it is gradually moving away from the BJP.
“In a democracy, transparency must not only exist but also be clearly visible,” the YSRCP posted on X on Wednesday, 14 October, alongside Jagan’s photograph.
Jagan had also recently made similar statements that could make the BJP frown. On 13 October, Jagan posted on his personal X handle that public confidence in the electoral process must be restored. He added that arresting CJP leaders Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka — for protesting at Jantar Mantar — would offer no solution and only worsen the situation.
Many felt his words indicated where the YSRCP is heading. The party stayed away when the Opposition held demonstrations in Delhi, seeking CEC Kumar’s resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. However, YSRCP had earlier blamed election irregularities, including tampering with Electronic Voting Machines, for its 2024 debacle in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly polls.
The YSRCP had backed the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) when the Chief Election Commissioner and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023 was passed.
Jagan said democracy functions smoothly only when people fully trust constitutional bodies such as the Election Commission. He said that reports that two Election Commissioners repeatedly objected to the Chief Election Commissioner cast doubt on the constitutional body.
“In view of the current circumstances, there is a need to reconsider the Bill that we supported in the past,” Jagan said. He urged the Centre to address concerns about the Election Commission’s independence. He suggested reverting to the earlier norm of appointing the Chief Election Commissioner and other Election Commissioners by a three-member committee comprising the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and the Chief Justice of India.
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All India Trinamool Congress’s Mahua Moitra was sceptical of Jagan and responded sharply. Advising Jagan against trying to impress the public, she asked him to stop supporting the BJP-led NDA government on all issues, including constituency delimitation.
Meanwhile, CJP’s Abhijeet Dipke and Ajinkya Shinde thanked Jagan on social media for supporting their organisation’s demand for an overhaul of the Election Commission. Vijay Reddy, the CJP representative for Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, thanked Jagan for condemning the jailing of Ranka and Das.
YSRCP is neither part of the NDA nor of the INDIA bloc. Although it is not an NDA ally, it has supported the central government on several occasions. It supported bills related to the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the National Register of Citizens (NRC), and the abrogation of Article 370. However, it opposed the Waqf Amendment Bill.
The YSRCP supported Om Birla, the BJP’s nominee for Lok Sabha Speaker, and NDA candidate CP Radhakrishnan in last year’s Vice Presidential election. At the time these decisions were made, Jagan’s political rivals — Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan — were partners in the NDA. Although he was not part of the NDA alliance, Jagan never rubbed the BJP the wrong way.
In the Vice Presidential election, the INDIA bloc fielded former Supreme Court judge and Telugu native B Sudershan Reddy as its candidate. As BJP allies, the TDP and Jana Sena had to support the NDA candidate, Radhakrishnan. The YSRCP, which is not in the NDA, also extended support to Radhakrishnan, who hails from Tamil Nadu. Four Rajya Sabha members from the party voted for the NDA candidate.
The BRS abstained from that election.
So far, the YSRCP has not publicly demanded Kumar’s removal. With petitions filed seeking daily hearings in the ED cases and the CBI court deciding in favour of the central agency, the YSRCP suspects behind-the-scenes developments against it. Party leaders alleged that the pace of investigation in various cases has increased as part of these developments.
Amid protests demanding an overhaul of the Election Commission and Kumar’s resignation, senior Congress leader Tulasi Reddy welcomed Jagan’s latest statements. He appreciated Jagan’s support for the movement to restore democracy. However, Tulasi Reddy reminded the YSRCP of the “unilateral” local body elections in 2021.
Senior journalist Pradeep Kumar opined that the ruling NDA alliance in Andhra Pradesh is on strong footing, and that Jagan may have concluded that the alliance of Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, and the BJP is unlikely to break up anytime soon. Jagan may also believe that after 15 years in power at the Centre, Modi may not be as strong by 2029.
Pradeep Kumar noted that since Jagan has repeatedly blamed EVM tampering and flaws in election management for the YSRCP’s crushing defeat in the 2024 elections, supporting protests against the ECI and the CEC will strengthen his argument and allow him to project himself to the public as a victim.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
