Target 151, Jagan Mohan Reddy sets goals, scores for party leaders

Reddy said the target of 151 seats was achievable as the government had fulfilled “95% of its poll promises” and “credited over Rs 1.37 lakh crore through DBT (direct benefit transfer), without any corruption”.

The meeting came days after Reddy carried out a mid-term reshuffle of his Cabinet, retaining just half the sitting ministers. (Photo: Twitter/@AndhraPradeshCM)

Two years to go for the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections, YSR Congress Party leader and Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has laid out a roadmap for his party leaders and MLAs, with a warning that only those with good “scores” can expect tickets in 2024. The party has set a target of 151 seats for itself, out of 175. The party had won 150 seats last time.

At a meeting Wednesday, the MLAs were told they would be graded depending on the success of their door-to-door campaigning, and a mass contact programme beginning May and lasting nine months, in which they must explain to people the implementation of government schemes and development activities taken up by the YSRCP government.

MLAs have to visit at least 10 village / ward secretariats every month, monitor for two days and provide feedback.

The meeting came days after Reddy carried out a mid-term reshuffle of his Cabinet, retaining just half the sitting ministers. While a couple of dropped leaders sulked, the murmurs notably didn’t last long.

Reddy said the target of 151 seats was achievable as the government had fulfilled “95% of its poll promises” and “credited over Rs 1.37 lakh crore through DBT (direct benefit transfer), without any corruption”.

Among the schemes YSRCP leaders have been told to campaign about are the distribution of housing site ownership documents to eligible poor beneficiaries. On Thursday, Reddy toured Visakhapatnam and Anakapalli districts to distribute 1.32 lakh such documents himself.
A party leader said: “The CM has put everyone in election mode with this meeting. Even the newly appointed ministers only have a short time to prove themselves.”

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Reddy also directed that 50% of the booth committees of the party be reserved for women and 50% for SCs, STs, backward classes or minorities in constituencies where their numbers are substantial.

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According to party leaders, Reddy said the government was fighting not just the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), its main rival, but also a section of the media.

While it won just 23 MLAs in 2019, the TDP has been aggressive in Opposition and its chief N Chandrababu Naidu and his son N Lokesh Naidu have stepped up attacks on the YSRCP government over issues like sale of cheap liquor, corruption, Amaravati farmer protests, and law and order situation.

Of the other Opposition parties, the Congress is virtually decimated, while the BJP and Jana Sena are still organising themselves.

Sreenivas Janyala

Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance. Expertise and Experience Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues: High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy. Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules. Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes. Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak. Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More