Until YS Jagan Mohan Reddy captured the imagination of the Andhra public with his ‘Padayatra’, the YSRCP was struggling to expose the TDP.
Although resentment was building against the TDP because of the Amaravati, Pattiseema and Polavaram scams apart from the failure to implement the electoral promises and the frequent flip-flops over the SCS issue, there was no leader in the YSRCP, experienced and senior enough and more importantly, with impeccable communication skills who could engage people’s attention.
Precisely, at this point, Undavalli Arun Kumar entered the scene.
A staunch loyalist of YSR and KVP, Undavalli who was keeping away from active politics after his suspension from the Congress Party started questioning the government.
YS Jagan who has a soft corner for Undavalli went to his residence and met him. Although Undavalli did not officially join the YSRCP, he started holding ‘press meets’ regularly in his personal capacity and flayed the TDP over its maladministration.
Thanks to his flamboyant and hard-hitting oratorical skills, people started to sit up and take notice. Every question from Undavalli was like a poison arrow in the body of the TDP.
By the time the election date came near, Jagan’s ‘Padayatra’ coupled with Undavalli’s ‘press meets’ generated immense goodwill for the YSRCP.
It is probably not an exaggeration therefore to say that Undavalli Arun Kumar indirectly played a major role in Jagan’s victory.
YS Jagan, the son of his beloved friend Rajasekhar Reddy is now the Chief Minister and whether he admits this or not, Undavalli must definitely be a happy person for having repaid the love and affection shown by Rajasekhar Reddy to him.
As for the YCP, it owes a debt of gratitude to him and YCP cadre will be praying that the old man will not find occasion to raise his voice against Jagan’s administration, anytime soon.
