Big test to YSRC MLAs on Monday; Jagan reviewing performances

Vijayawada: YSR Congress MLAs would come to know of their future on the basis of a performance-assessment by Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy on Monday, when the final round of the review meeting on the Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam mass contact programme will be held.

The chief minister would give the final grades and reveal the party’s strategies for the ‘Election 2024 - Target 175’ mission.

During the last review meeting in December, Jagan Reddy warned 32 MLAs whose performance did not meet his expectations, that they might not get the party tickets for the next polls. This time, he would study the feedback on the other MLAs and may present it at the April 3 meeting.

Thus, it will be clear how many ruling party MLAs will face the axe in the next elections.

In the last review on GGMP, nearly 30 legislators lagged behind in grades. The CM warned the poor performers about losing tickets. Hence, all 146 MLAs (except Jagan) were excited to know the performances and future strategies.

The GGMP programme was completed in March-2023. Jagan Reddy would announce a new mass interaction campaign called ‘Jagananne Maa Bhavishyatthu,’  to reach out to each and every individual, targeting five cropre people of AP. Jagan decided to clear the air to MLAs giving them a ‘Perform or Perish’ message while preparing the YSRC for the Big Battle of 2024 elections.

Jagan Reddy was donning the role of teacher in the GGMP review meeting, taking classes to the MLAs and now too he is turning “Masterji” with the progress cards of the legislators in his hands. Apart from the MLAs, the meeting will be attended by Jagan's cabinet colleagues, party in-charges for various constituencies, regional coordinators, district presidents and other senior party members.

According to sources, Jagan will evaluate the individual performance of the MLAs in their respective constituencies. He will also conduct a comprehensive review of the party's performance in the last four years and discuss the election year's roadmap.

The sources said that the recent debacle in the Graduate Constituency elections to YSRC has shaken the party rank and file, though this was not a voting at the mass level. Sections of the middle classes are known to have differences over Jagan’s style of governance as in the huge spend of money for welfare.

Jagan will also conduct a thorough review of the party leaders’ performances in the recent MLC elections and is expected to give stern warnings to MLAs who defy the party line. He may also take action against party leaders who failed to ensure the party candidates' victory in the graduates' constituencies.

Notably, Telugu Desam leaders had claimed at least 16 YSRC MLAs were in touch with them and wanted to switch sides. The suspended MLAs said that many legislators were unhappy and feeling suffocated due to the lack of internal democracy in the ruling YSRC.

Sources said that Jagan had decided to select candidates six months in advance for the assembly elections and hence started the GGMP mass contact programme to analyze the performances of the present legislators. Jagan warned of appointing new candidates in place of poor performers and implemented it in a few constituencies.

Jagan got the opportunity of the MLA quota MLC elections to identify the black sheep. Similarly there are chances of finding out disinterested legislators in the YSRC strategy and mass programmes through their GGMP performances. Jagan will not hesitate to show the exit doors to the unhappy legislators and those who have crossed the party line.