Jagan plans hyper-local outreach across Andhra

Former Andhra Pradesh chief minister and YSR Congress leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is gearing up early for the Assembly polls due in three years. His activities in recent weeks indicate that he is preparing to hit the ground at a time when the TDP-led government is making headlines over investments in the state.

Sources told ET that Jagan Mohan Reddy is focusing on addressing the shortcomings that led to the party's defeat in both the Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. A survey has been commissioned to provide a detailed analysis of the reasons behind the setback along with corrective suggestions. Initial findings have pointed to weakening grassroots connect as one of the key reasons for the poll debacle.

Also Read: Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu criticise Opposition after Constitution Bill defeat; warn of impact on South’s representation and women’s quota


Realising this, Jagan is shifting to a hyper-local outreach strategy. On Thursday, he met farmers in Ponnur in Guntur district and targeted the state government, calling its actions "barbaric". Farmers in Ponnur had alleged that a group of TDP supporters entered a maize storage godown, vandalised it and assaulted farmers who had stored their produce there.

Jagan is also planning a statewide yatra that is likely to coincide with the final months of the current government's tenure. Sources told ET that the party is also working on identifying strong candidates for every Assembly seat, with special focus on constituencies won by NDA heavyweights.