With the TDP, Jana Sena and BJP alliance stormed into power in Andhra Pradesh, the out-going chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy created a new dismal record that no leader in the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh state also suffered so badly.
Campaigning with a bold slogan of `Why Not 175’ exuding confidence to win all seats and practically finishing the opposition, he was pushed to the corner by people with only 11 seats. It may be recalled that only in the Nagaland assembly presently there is no opposition.
All his ministers, except one, were defeated. In eight erstwhile districts YCP failed to open its account. Even in his family fortress Kadapa, Jagan could win only three seats, including himself.
Jaganmohan Reddy himself expressed surprise over his defeat after extending money transfer of Rs 2.70 lakh crore to poor, particularly women during the last five years of his rule. He was confident that those beneficiaries will stand behind him at any cost.
Chandrababu Naidu’s promise of good governance, asset creation through development and continuation of welfare schemes with more focus looks to have resonated with voters.
Jaganmohan Reddy’s dismal performance in promoting industries, job creation, allegations of land grabbing and corruption against its key leaders distances him from his core voters. Moreover, his attitude of victimization attracted the ire of government employees.
Pushing state into severe financial crisis by mobilizing upto Rs 15 lakh crore debts and failure to spend on infrastructure created discontent even among his own party cadre.
During 2019 polls he appealed to people that he will fight with the Center for realizing `Special Status’ to the state if 25 of his candidates won in Lok Sabha polls.
Though his party won 23 MP seats, he was practically silent and unable to question `injustice’ to the state by the state on issues like not realizing bifurcation promises like steel plant at Kadapa, Railway Zone at Visakhapatnam and completion of Polavaram irrigation project. He was also unable to raise his voice when Center attempted to privatize Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
The opposition accused him that he has been using his strength of MPs to shield from pending CBI and ED cases against him by extending support to the Narendra Modi government in Parliament on all issues.
BJP top leaders also who were continuing shielding Jaganmohan Reddy from all `crisis of governance’ suddenly shifted their focus on Chandrababu Naidu just a week before polling realizing that he is going to register a resounding victory in polls.
