Sushmita Dutta
Yedugiri Sandinti Jaganmohan Reddy (YS Jaganmohan Reddy) is a master strategist with an extremely shrewd mind who has soared in politics after his father YS Rajashekhar Reddy (YSR), died in an chopper crash. The demise of his father in September 2009 changed everything for Jaganmohan Reddy.
Jagan had to give into the demands from within the party to take over its reins and chart a new political course.
Within hours of his father’s death there was pressure to appoint Jagan as the next Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. The local party leaders launched a campaign to make the young Reddy the next chief minister. But the Congress high command decided to go with K Rosaiah.
Despite a huge number of legislators rallying behind him, the Congress did not bend for him, spoiling his relation with the grand old party. He began to defy the Congress and by early 2010, it was clear he will form his own party given the massive support he garnered for his ‘Odarpu Yatra’ (Condolence tour).
The last straw was the appointment of N Kiran Kumar Reddy as the replacement for Rosaiah, as the Chief Minister. In November 2010, Jagan Reddy walked out of Congress, a party his father served loyally for almost three decades. He even gave up his Lok Sabha seat.
In March 2011, Jagan formed his own party and called it- Yuvajan Sramika Rythu Congress (YSR Congress). Soon afterwards, Jagan fought by-election from Kadapa constituency and his mother YS Vijaya Laksmi contested from Pulivendula Assembly constituency. Both won with a record margin of votes, Jagan got an whooping 5,21,000 while his mother bagged 85,191 votes.
Pulivendula village of Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh has a special significance in Jagan’s life as he was born here on December 21, 1972. He received his early education from Pulivendula and Hyderabad Public School. Telugu daily newspaper Sakshi and the television channel Sakshi TV both were founded by him. Jagan’s younger sister S Sharmila is also a politician. He is blessed with two daughters and is married to Bharti, who is a staunch believer that her husband will one day become the CM of Andhra.
In the by-election after the formation of the party by Jagan Reddy, the Congress faced a complete rout when it lost all seven seats.
However, in May 2012, Jagan had to go to jail when he was arrested in a disproportionate assets case. After spending 16 months in jail, Jagan finally came out on bail in September 2013. Political analysts believe that it was Jagan’s punishment for defying and leaving the Congress party.
After the Congress decided to bifurcate the state into Telangana and Seemandhra, Jagan saw it as his big chance to make his way into people’s heart by championing for the cause of a United Andhra.
However, with the state having been divided, Jagan has emerged as the most popular choice to take over as the chief minister of Seemandhra.
At the same time analysts are also not ruling out a possible neck to neck race between the TDP and the YSR Congress in many constituencies.
Polls in Andhra Pradesh are scheduled on April 30 and May 7. This would be the last time that the state will go into elections as a united state.
