With several senior leaders and their followers quitting the YSR Congress Party in the past six months, party president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is reportedly planning to attract potential leaders from the Congress to strengthen his party.
Jagan’s primary objective is to prevent a leadership vacuum in any district. However, he is also said to be targeting his sister, Y S Sharmila, who has become a greater challenge for him than the leaders of the Telugu Desam Party and Jana Sena Party.
Sharmila, while relatively restrained in her criticism of the TDP and its coalition partners, has been openly critical of Jagan, accusing him of prioritizing personal interests over governance during his tenure.
Her comments have resonated with certain factions within the Congress, but they have also sparked dissent among senior leaders of her own party, questioning her leadership capabilities.
Jagan seems to be leveraging this internal discord to undermine her position and further consolidate his party’s dominance in the state.
Currently, Jagan is undertaking a major revamp of the YSRCP, conducting back-to-back district tours to strengthen grassroots connections. Simultaneously, he is reaching out to disenchanted Congress leaders, urging them to join the YSRCP.
A significant development in this regard is Jagan’s outreach to Congress veterans who were close to his late father, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.
Notable figures, such as former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief Sake Shailajanath, have already met with Jagan, fueling speculation about their potential defection to the YSRCP.
Reports suggest that Jagan’s strategy serves a dual purpose: fortifying his party with experienced leaders while diminishing Sharmila’s influence.
In addition to addressing external challenges, Jagan is tackling internal issues within the YSRCP by holding frequent meetings with party leaders and planning district-level stays to reconnect with voters.
On the national stage, he is reportedly strategizing from Bengaluru and Delhi, working to counter opposition forces and align the YSRCP with key political allies to strengthen his position.
