CM Jagan Mohan Reddy preparing to take on opposition TDP and Congress ahead of polls
Jagan Mohan Reddy's YSR Congress Party is preparing for an aggressive election campaign ahead of the assembly and Lok Sabha polls amid the challenge of rising TDP in the state.
In 2019, the party registered a massive victory in both the assembly and Lok Sabha elections garnering almost 50% vote share. YSR Congress had won 151 out of 175 seats and 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats.
In 2024, it is facing challenges on multiple fronts.
Party leaders admit that after the arrest and release of TDP leader N Chandra Babu Naidu, the graph of TDP has been going upwards. However, there is a general belief within the party that Jagan Mohan's popularity due to his government schemes will outdo the Opposition.
The party is of the view that despite BJP being friendly with TDP, there is not going to be any alliance with TDP in the state.
It will be YSR Congress versus TDP and Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena.
The party has started early preparation by announcing candidates for assembly and Lok Sabha seats. As of now, it has announced 42 new assembly candidates replacing existing MLAs to counter anti-incumbency against the legislators.
Party sources told ET that around 15 more MLAs are going to lose their tickets, making it closer to 40% of the current strength. Party sources claimed that barring one or two leaders expressing unhappiness, the other party leaders have accepted the change.
In 2019, election strategist Prashant Kishor led IPAC handled the campaign for YSR Congress and Jagan Mohan.
While IPAC is still working on the 2024 campaign, Kishor has parted ways and sided with the Opposition TDP this time. TDP sources told ET that Kishor is advising the party during the election campaign and they consider it as a big boost for themselves.
