Jagan Mohan Reddy to launch Padyatra in September-October next year

Amaravati, Sep 9 (AHN) YSR Congress Party President and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday announced that he would launch a statewide Padyatra in September or October 2027 to take up people’s issues and strengthen the grassroot connection ahead of 2029 polls.

Jagan Mohan Reddy made the announcement at a meeting of party workers from the Parchur Assembly constituency at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli.

"Two and a half years have passed in the blink of an eye, and another year will fly by just as quickly. My padayatra will begin next September or October, and it will pass through Parchur as well," he said

He said the people have already begun comparing the five years of the YSRCP's governance with the present Chandrababu Naidu government and are clearly seeing the difference.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said the YSRCP had given credibility to its manifesto by implementing 99 per cent of its promises. In contrast, Chandrababu Naidu distributed bonds carrying his and Pawan Kalyan’s signatures before the elections but abandoned the promises after coming to power, he claimed.

Calling the coming political battle a "Kurukshetra Sangramam", he urged party cadres to stand firmly with the people and fight any misuse of official machinery. Recalling the 2017 Nandyal by-election and subsequent political developments, he said repression could never ensure permanent political success.

"Whenever and however elections are held, the YSRCP will stand with the people. If elections are conducted fairly, the YSRCP will emerge victorious. Even if they are not, we will fight strongly," he said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy claimed there is widespread public resentment against the TDP-led coalition government headed by Chandrababu Naidu.

"A ruler should always do good deeds and seek votes based on them. Only then will God bless them, and the people will support them. People will not tolerate lies and acts of aggression indefinitely," he said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy said discussions were taking place in every household regarding the difference between the five-year rule of the YSRCP and Chandrababu Naidu's two-and-a-half-year tenure.

"Our governance was such that every party worker could speak about it with pride and visit any household with confidence. A YSR Congress Party worker could walk into any home and speak proudly about our achievements," he said, listing out the achievements of the YSRCP government.

Chandrababu Naidu had even sent bonds to every household along with the manifesto; yet, after the elections, there was no trace of that manifesto to be found, he said.

The YSRCP chief alleged that Chandrababu Naidu betrayed all sections of people by failing to fulfil promises made to them. People are realizing they were misled by trusting him, he said.

He accused Chandrababu Naidu of a conspiracy to delay local body elections. "It is uncertain whether they will actually take place, as Chandrababu is staging a drama regarding 34 per cent reservation for BCs in local bodies. He knows full well that the court will strike it down; yet, he is using this as a pretext to conspire and postpone the elections."

Accusing the coalition government of misusing police and targeting YSRCP leaders through false cases, he said a similar situation prevailed when the TDP was in power in 2014-19.

"The Nandyal by-election took place before my Padayatra in 2017. Due to gross abuse of power, our party lost by a margin of 35,000 votes. Between 2014 and 2019, he poached 23 MLAs and three MPs from our party. Subsequently, my Padayatra took place. A tsunami of people emerged, and the public delivered a clear verdict," he said.

Jagan Mohan Reddy recalled that Chandrababu could win only 23 Assembly seats and three Lok Sabha seats.

The YSRCP, which was reduced to just 11 seats in the 175-member Assembly in the 2024 elections, suffered many setbacks with several leaders leaving the party.

The YSRCP cadres are looking forward to the Padyatra by their leader as it is expected to lift the party’s spirits and gear it up to face the next elections.

Jagan Mohan Reddy had undertaken a marathon 3,648 km Padyatra, which had helped the YSRCP to capture power with a landslide victory in 2019.