YSR Congress Party president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is reportedly deeply dissatisfied with the performance of senior party leader and former minister Botsa Satyanarayana in the State Legislative Council during the ongoing budget session.
Jagan had appointed Botsa as an MLC and Leader of the Opposition in the Council, expecting him to be a strong voice against the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition, leveraging his political experience to challenge the government effectively.
"Since Jagan and his MLAs are staying away from the Assembly, he expected Botsa to fill the void in the Council and lead a strong fight against the Chandrababu Naidu-led government," sources revealed.
However, despite raising public concerns, Botsa has not been as aggressive as expected.
Jagan is reportedly disappointed that Botsa has failed to corner ministers on key issues and has not adequately defended the party when the ruling coalition has criticized the previous government.
"He is struggling to counter even junior ministers like Vangalapudi Anitha and Nara Lokesh, who have been launching fierce attacks on the Jagan administration," sources added.
What is said to have further frustrated Jagan is Botsa’s growing rapport with Jana Sena Party (JSP) leaders. During a photo session on Tuesday, he was seen shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries with Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan.
On Wednesday, Botsa reportedly sought an appointment with Pawan Kalyan, inquiring about his upcoming visit to Delhi and when he would return to the Assembly.
Botsa also informed Pawan about the ongoing issues faced by Kolleru farmers due to a forest department survey, which has caused distress among the local farming community.
He suggested that if Pawan could confirm his visit, he would arrange for the affected farmers to meet him.
In response, Pawan assured Botsa that he would provide an update on his schedule soon and promised to meet the Kolleru aquaculture farmers upon his return from Delhi.
The forest department survey in Kolleru began on March 9, following a Supreme Court directive to investigate encroachments in the region. The court had ordered a status report to be submitted within three months.
With a hearing on the Kolleru petition scheduled in the Supreme Court tomorrow, Botsa, concerned about the survey’s impact on farmers, sought Pawan’s intervention.
The Jana Sena chief agreed to meet the affected farmers, adding a new dimension to the political landscape in Andhra Pradesh.
