As the national debate over holding simultaneous elections (Jamili) intensifies, new political formations begin to take shape in Andhra Pradesh. The coalition government of the state has completed six months in power, and YSRCP has been escalating its opposition to the ruling administration. For this Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy is planning district tours to establish his party’s footing all over the state.
Since Jagan’s YSRCP could not deliver good results in the 2024 elections, the present strategy is to take some strong decisions to revitalize the party. One such step taken by him is by elevating former minister Anil Kumar Yadav to a key position within the party hierarchy.
A primary focus for Jagan at this time is reinforcing the party’s organizational framework. He has set a target to complete the formation of all party committees, ranging from state-level bodies to mandal units, by the time of Sankranthi. Several high-ranking positions within the state have already been filled, and district presidents have been appointed. In an effort to learn from past mistakes, Jagan is reappointing former MLAs as constituency coordinators. One of the key decisions includes bringing Anil Kumar Yadav into the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), where he has been entrusted with significant responsibilities in the Nellore district.
Anil, who contested and lost the Narasaraopet seat in the 2024 elections, previously represented Nellore City as an MLA and served as the Irrigation Minister. However, his tenure was marred by opposition from within the party in his home district. His position as a minister was later handed over to Kakani Govardhan Reddy, leading to internal factionalism.Due to this, Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Mekapati Chandrasekhar Reddy, and Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, high-ranking leaders of the YSRCP, broke their bond with the party. While the YSRCP might have won in the elections in 2019, it could not win any seat in Nellore for the 2024 election.
To counter this setback, Jagan is now placing his focus on rebuilding the YSRCP’s presence in the Nellore region. While Anil had been less active in party affairs recently due to personal reasons, he has reaffirmed his commitment to Jagan and the party. Although there was speculation that Anil might contest the upcoming elections from Nellore City, his new position within the PAC points to a more strategic, behind-the-scenes role. His responsibilities will include bolstering the party’s presence in Nellore and other urban areas where the competition from rival factions remains intense.
At present, Minister Narayana represents Nellore City in the Assembly, while Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy serves as the MP for the district. Anil’s reappointment places him in direct competition with these influential figures. His challenge will be to unite the party and strengthen its foundation in the district, despite the ongoing internal struggles. The response from other key YSRCP leaders in Nellore will be critical, and Anil’s ability to succeed in this task could play a decisive role in the party’s future in the region.
This strategic reshuffling signals that Jagan is not only looking to address the immediate setbacks but is also preparing for long-term success by strengthening party leadership at all levels in Andhra Pradesh.
