Since Jagan assumed power in 2019, close aides are either distancing themselves or being sidelined by Jagan from the government and party affairs.
YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. (South First)
Once surrounded by aides with significant political clout, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy seems to be heading to the Assembly elections next year as a lone ranger.
The YSRCP chief and Andhra Pradesh chief minister seems to have decided to rely solely on goodwill over welfare schemes and local survey reports of winnable candidates instead of depending on his confidants.
Since Jagan assumed power in 2019, close aides, including family members, have been distancing themselves or were sidelined by Jagan.
A few close aides are even openly voicing their disappointment over being sidelined, while others resigned and revolted against him.
Politics in the united Andhra Pradesh was never a family affair with the Congress high command having the last say — even in the case of selecting the chief minister.
However, the political landscape changed with the rise of YS Rajasekhara Reddy. YSR, as he was better known, became one of the strongest political forces in united Andhra.
His son YS Jagan Mohan Reddy entered politics in 2009 and got elected as an MP from his home turf Kadapa. However, his political career took a new turn following the sudden death of his father in a chopper crash in September 2009.
With many close aides of YSR backing him, Jagan, after a rift with the Congress high command over his padayatra, founded the YSRCP in 2011. His close aides were his biggest strength.
However, he had to face the consequences. A year later, Jagan was arrested by the CBI. He was accused of amassing huge assets by misusing his father’s office when the latter was the chief minister.
Still, many close aides of late YS Rajasekhara Reddy stuck by Jagan. More people joined his camp as the Congress favoured the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh paving the way for formation of Telangana.
Then onwards, Jagan’s mother YS Vijayamma, his sister YS Sharmila, and many leaders stood by him, until the YSRCP achieved a massive win in 2019.
However, with the alleged murder of his uncle YS Vivekananda, the family stood divided.
One faction is supporting YS Vivekananda’s daughter Sunitha, who is engaged in a legal battle to bring her fathers’ murderers — including Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy, as she claims — to book, while the other faction, including Jagan, has been backing the parliamentarian.
Jagan faced a setback when his sister, Sharmila disassociated from him, reportedly over family assets and political aspirations. She had kept the YSRCP together and even led campaigns against TDP’s N Chandrababu Naidu when Jagan was in jail.
Later, she floated a party, YSRTP in Telangana. Her mother Vijayamma too joined her after resigning from the post of YSRCP’s honorary president.
Sharmila is a witness in the CBI charge sheet in the Vivekananda murder case.
The YSRCP has been witnessing a series of resignations, the latest being that of Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy. He resigned from the party as well as his Assembly membership.
YSRCP Nellore rural MLA Sridhar Reddy joined the TDP a few months ago, Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy openly said that he voted for the TDP candidate in MLC elections, and was suspended. MLA and former minister Balineni Srinivas Reddy publicly stated that he was sidelined. So was Ramakrishna Reddy.
Notably, Jagan had once enjoyed the unflinching support of the Reddys.
Speaking to South First, senior journalist and political analyst Telakapalli Ravi termed the discontent “mutual”.
“Jagan seems to be unhappy with the leaders’ performance or potentiality to win the forthcoming elections, and he wants to replace them. So, the MLAs or leaders, on the other hand, are not happy with Jagan not providing the opportunity in the Cabinet or ticket again, resulting in the rift.”
Several other senior leaders such as Eluru MLA and former minister Alla Nani, who are currently silent, may speak up once the YSRCP announces its list of candidates, he opined.
However, not just the MLAs, but two other key leaders from the Reddy community are also not active at the state level as earlier.
This includes YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP Vijaya Sai Reddy, the second accused in the assets case in which Jagan is the prime accused.
Earlier, Sai Reddy toured the state, overseeing the YSRCP’s poll machinery, but was absent in the March 2023 MLC elections, where YSRCP lost all three seats to the TDP.
He was even removed as the North Andhra regional in-charge after allegations of land pooling. Now, Sai Reddy is not frequently seen in mainstream state politics. He is more involved at the district level, after Balineni Srinivas Reddy’s resignation as Bapatla, Prakasam, Nellore, Tirupati, and Chittoor regional in-charge.
Another disgruntled leader is Jagan’s maternal uncle YV Subba Reddy, who was replaced as TTD Chief by Tirupati MLA Bhumana Karunakar Reddy recently.
Ravi felt that Jagan doesn’t want several YSRCP leaders to be equal in stature to him, or wants to limit the fruits of his government to a very close, small circle.
The other two backward community leaders Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, who was eyeing the Repalle Assembly seat, and Pilli Subash Chandra Bose, who wants the Ramachandrapuram constituency, too, are disgruntled.
Both leaders had earlier lost Repalle and Mandapet, respectively, but were nominated to the Rajya Sabha. However, they are now angry over the YSRCP chief not renominating them.
These leaders joined hands with Jagan from the beginning of his political career. Mopidevi Venkat Ramana even went to jail in the CBI assets case.
“Jagan’s strategy is clear since the beginning that he is relying on welfare schemes and wants to win again. He is a noted businessman and politician, and he goes beyond personal relationships. He is keener on getting the people’s mandate, and denial of tickets is part of his move,” Ravi added.
Jul 01, 2024
Jun 28, 2024
Jun 28, 2024
Jun 27, 2024
Jun 27, 2024
Jun 26, 2024
