YSRC Reshuffle Creates Ripples in AP; CM Jagan Set to Play BC Card in Polls
VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as president of the YSRC has started a reshuffle of the party by following the social engineering concept to ably face the 2024 elections.
Jagan Mohan Reddy has changed 11 constituency incharges and is likely to change more soon. This is creating ripples among party rank and file and several leaders have started assessments on their own about their performances to know about the chances of continuation in their posts.
Interestingly, after releasing a list of 11 new names of YSRC in-charges, a list with 82 Assembly segments where the YSRC would change candidates and another list with names of 26 MLAs/incharges losing their party tickets went viral on Tuesday.
But, there was no official confirmation from the YSRC. Reliable sources are claiming a change of 50 party candidates is inevitable under Jagan Mohan Reddy’s social engineering formula.
Education minister Botsa Satyanarayana and adviser to government (public affairs) Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy affirmed about the change of positions in the Assembly constituencies under the Why Not 175 target.
The Chief Minister already released a list of 11 names changing the Assembly constituency in-charges. Hence, the YSRC leaders including legislators and in-charges are waiting for the next lists to test their luck.
Jagan Mohan Reddy is giving top priority to BCs in the government and party, as they are the deciding factor and formed half of the state’s voters.
The social engineering formula of fielding BC candidates in general seats too worked well in the last elections and later in the local bodies, municipal and corporation elections.
Jagan Mohan Reddy is once banking on social engineering to consolidate the votes of BCs and other communities.
Jagan Mohan Reddy is warning MLAs of losing tickets if they show poor performances in the mass outreach programmes like Gadapa Gadapaku Mana Prabhutvam etc for the past year and a half.
In the beginning, nearly 65 MLAs were seen as poor performances. Later the number reduced to 45 legislators, then to 38 legislators and down to 32 MLAs during the tri-monthly reviews of MLAs’ performances.
In the last review of Gadapa Gadpaku, the Chief Minister affirmed that he was not willing to lose any MLA, but under the winning strategies, “some have to be ready to face changes” and “they would be suitably rewarded.”
The sources say that after the BRS defeat in Telangana, there is a ripple effect on Andhra Pradesh politics. “Jagan Mohan Reddy is drawing lessons from the Telangana election results. There is evidence to show the BRS faced defeat in Telangana due to its failure to replace sitting MLAs and positive outcomes were observed where new candidates were fielded.
Hence, Jagan Mohan Reddy feels this is the right time to reshuffle YSRC. The dissidence with the change of in-charges/candidates will be settled in the next two months and this would give time to new leaders to strengthen their bases in the new Assembly constituencies, sources said.
Party sources say several survey teams have submitted reports to the CM, highlighting the unpopularity of some MLAs at the grassroots level. Jagan Mohan Reddy would replace such MLAs. He is sending some MPs as MLA candidates and some MLAs as MP candidates for the 2024 polls.
Jagan Mohan Reddy decided that tickets cannot be granted to MLAs who have failed to build a reputation for themselves. He would act tough if only to enable the YSRC to retain power.
