వైఎస్ఆర్‌సీపీ: తండ్రి మరణం తర్వాత జగన్ పార్టీని ఎలా నిర్మించారు?

YSRCP: How Jagan Mohan Reddy built a party after his father's death

September 2, 2009. The helicopter carrying the Chief Minister of the united Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, crashed in the Nallamala forests. His death, just months after he came to power for the second time, plunged the state into mourning. Out of that tragedy, a new political party was born — the Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP).

YSR's legacy

YS Rajasekhara Reddy walked more than 1,400 kilometers in 2003 and brought the Congress to power in 2004. He gained immense popularity among the poor with schemes like Aarogyasri, fee reimbursement, 108 ambulance, free electricity, and Jalayagnam. He won again in 2009. After his sudden death, many MLAs demanded that his son, Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, be made the Chief Minister. But the Congress high command appointed K. Rosaiah as the Chief Minister.

Consolation Journey — Disagreements

Jagan, upon hearing the news of YS's death, began a "condolence march" to visit the families of those who lost their lives. He continued despite objections from the Congress high command. The differences grew and in November 2010, Jagan resigned from the Congress and his MP post.

The emergence of the party (2011)

The YSR Congress Party was officially launched on March 12, 2011. Jagan won the Kadapa Lok Sabha by-election held in May of the same year with a record majority of over five lakh votes. The party also achieved better results in the 2012 by-election.

Prison, legal battle

Jagan was arrested by the CBI in May 2012 in a disproportionate assets case. He was released on bail in September 2013 after spending nearly 16 months in jail. His party has accused the cases of political vendetta, while his opponents have used the corruption allegations as propaganda. The investigation into these cases is ongoing.

2014 — Opposition

In the divided Andhra Pradesh, the YSRCP emerged as the main opposition party in the 2014 elections, winning 67 seats. It lost power by a narrow margin. The party suffered a setback when several MLAs joined the ruling TDP.

The success of the Praja Sankalpa Yatra, 2019

Following in his father's footsteps, Jagan undertook a "Praja Sankalpa Yatra" covering more than 3,600 kilometers from November 2017 to January 2019. He announced welfare promises in the name of "Navaratnalu". He won a landslide victory in the 2019 elections, winning 151 out of 175 seats. He was sworn in as the Chief Minister on May 30, 2019.

Governance — Highlights

The main change in his rule was to bring welfare schemes to the doorsteps through village and ward secretariats and the volunteer system. He brought schemes like Amma Vodi, Rythu Bharosa, Nadu-Nedu (development of schools), and English medium education. The proposal of three capitals was highly controversial, and the farmers of Amaravati staged a long agitation. There was criticism that he prioritized welfare over development, that debts increased, and that cases were filed against the opposition.

2024 — Setback

In the 2024 elections, the YSRCP was limited to just 11 seats in the face of the TDP-Jana Sena-BJP alliance. However, it retained a significant vote share. The party is now trying to rebuild itself as an opposition.

Conclusion

Father's legacy, padayatras, welfare politics — the YSRCP's reign revolves around these three. From overwhelming victory to crushing defeat, this party's story shows how quickly the verdict of the people can change in a democracy.

Photo: Prime Minister's Office / Wikimedia Commons (GODL-India)