facing-a-plethora-of-challenges-jagan-to-embark-on-mass-outreach-programme

Facing the twin challenges of anti-incumbency and a rejuvenated opposition alliance, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is gearing up for a massive public outreach ahead of elections.

 

The YSR Congress Party supremo will embark on a three-week-long state-wide bus yatra from March 27 as part of his campaign for the upcoming simultaneous polls to the assembly and Lok Sabha.

 

Apart from the combined opposition onslaught—following an alliance formed by the Telugu Desam Party, BJP and Jana Sena Party—the Chief Minister is grappling with a new challenge being posed by his estranged sister and the state Congress president YS Sharmila who has been unsparing in her attack of the omissions and commissions of the government.

 

The perceived politics of vindictiveness, deepening financial crisis due to reckless freebies, failure to attract investments and lack of clarity on the capital city issue even ten years after bifurcation are some of the factors weighing against the YSRCP government.

 

The coming together of the Chandrababu Naidu-led TDP, actor-turned-politician Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party and BJP is expected to alter the political arithmetic ahead of the elections.

 

Speaking with the reporters, YSRCP general secretary and advisor to the state government on public affairs Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said the bus yatra, named as

 

Christened as “Memanthaa Siddham” (We all are ready), the bus yatra will begin from the Idupulapaya estate in the Kadapa district.

 

after the CM pays floral tribute to his father, the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s samadhi.

 

Jagan will first address a public rally at Proddatur, before leaving for Idupulapaya estate to start the bus yatra. “The bus yatra is aimed at reaching out to the maximum number of people, besides activating the party cadre for the electoral battle,” YSRCP spokesman S Ramakrishna Reddy said.

 

He said the bus yatra would continue up to April 18, when the election notification would be issued and the nomination process would start.

 

After that, Jagan will continue addressing rallies as part of a regular election campaign.

 

As part of the “Memantha Siddham” bus yatra, the YSRCP chief would conduct meetings in all three regions of the state—north coast, south coast and Rayalaseema.

 

“The yatra will cover all the districts except four, where he had already addressed ‘Siddham’ preparatory meetings. There will be an interaction session in the morning and a public meeting in the afternoon. As part of the interaction, suggestions would be received from the people to further improve the performance of the government,” the spokesman said.

 

Earlier this week, the Chief Minister addressed a meeting of party regional coordinators at his camp office in Vijayawada to discuss the details of the election campaign. He asked the party leaders to visit all village and ward secretariats and seek the people’s support.

 

“The party candidates should plan their schedule in such a way to meet the people in their respective constituencies by visiting all village and ward secretariats to interact with the people and seek their support,” he said. He further asked the regional coordinators to guide the candidates in formulating the road map.

 

Jagan asked the regional coordinators to take steps to establish good coordination between the party leaders and cadres in every constituency aiming at the target of winning all 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats.

 

“You should stand by the candidates and the cadre in all constituencies assessing the situation periodically and guiding them. You should also strive to make the forthcoming bus yatras successful,” he told the coordinators.