Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the leader of YSRCP, affirmed that his party is not aligned with any other political parties. They are running independently in the elections, drawing support from influential campaigners from economically disadvantaged backgrounds.
Starting the election campaign for YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh’s Bapatla district on March 10, Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy stressed that the forthcoming elections were shaping up as a pivotal “one versus all” showdown.
Addressing his fourth ‘siddham (ready)’ rally in Addanki, a constituency largely influenced by the Kammas, the YSRCP leader boldly aimed for his party to clinch victory in all 175 assembly seats. Posing the rhetorical question, “Why not 175?” added a touch of audacity to his ambition. Noteworthy is the fact that Reddy’s rival, TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu, also hails from the Kamma community, underscoring the intricate dynamics at play in this electoral showdown.
Reddy, seeking reelection, underscored that he was confronting the electoral challenge unaided.
In an impassioned speech to his party members, the Chief Minister posed a question, “Are you all prepared for the battle ahead? While Naidu relies on other parties, I place my trust in you, the people. In this battlefield, the people of Andhra Pradesh will play the role of Krishna, and I will be Arjuna.” Amidst enthusiastic chants of ‘Jai Jagan Anna’, Reddy highlighted the significant social welfare initiatives implemented by his government.
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Reddy proclaimed that he had restored the dignity of the underprivileged and called on the public to back him in extending the “path of welfare” for another five years. “Are you prepared for the challenge?” inquired the CM, eliciting an enthusiastic “Yes” from the crowd.
“Our source of strength lies in the comprehensive welfare initiatives we’ve implemented for every family in the state. While our MLAs diligently visit homes to discuss these schemes, Naidu appears more focused on engaging with the ‘yellow media’ and leaders in Delhi,” he commented.
“We need to deliver a fitting response to Babu (Naidu) and his alliance,” he proclaimed, portraying the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh as a battle akin to the “Kurukshetra war” between “righteousness and unrighteousness.”
Reddy highlighted that despite the TDP chief forging a tripartite alliance and having the backing of a national party like Congress, he found himself fighting solo in this political arena. He quipped about the coalition including parties like the BJP, which garnered fewer votes than NOTA, attributing this to Naidu’s inability to ride his political cycle solo – referencing the TDP’s election symbol.
In 2019, the YSRCP swept both the Lok Sabha and assembly elections, clinching 151 out of 175 assembly seats and 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats. In contrast, the TDP managed to secure only 23 assembly and three Lok Sabha seats. Recently, Reddy’s sister, YS Sharmila, merged her party with the Congress and assumed leadership as the chief of its Andhra Pradesh unit.
