As TDP, BJP strike alliance, Jagan plans YSRCP show of strength

The Andhra Pradesh CM is hoping to send a message to the Opposition ahead of an electoral contest that he is framing as a battle between beneficiaries of his government’s schemes and “capitalists” in the TDP-JSP combine

The YSRCP is hoping to bolster Andhra Pradesh CM Jagan Mohan Reddy’s call for “Why not 175?” – the target to win all 175 Assembly seats in the state. (Photo: YSRCP/ X)

The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) is all set to conduct its fourth ‘Siddham (ready for polls)’ cadre meeting on Sunday in the Bapatla district’s Addanki. The massive show of strength by Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy is set to be attended by lakhs of party workers from across the state a day after sealing of the alliance between the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), JanaSena Party (JSP) and BJP for the simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections for Andhra Pradesh.

YSRCP Rajya Sabha MP V Vijayasai Reddy said the party is making arrangements for at least 10 lakh attendees. With this meeting, the YSRCP plans to make a big political statement in the state’s central zone after having held similar meetings in Visakhapatnam, Denduluru in the Eluru district, and Rapthadu in the Anantapur district. “The Addanki meeting is expected to be bigger than all the three previous Siddham meetings,” Reddy said.

In particular, the YSRCP is hoping to bolster Jagan’s call for “Why not 175?” – the target to win all 175 Assembly seats in the state. “We are all working together to make the Siddham meeting in Bapatla a huge success. We are expecting as many as 15 lakh party supporters to be present at the event to make it one of the largest political meetings that has happened in the state,” Reddy said. All the arrangements, from venue setup and transport to refreshments and sanitation, have already been completed.

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The YSRCP leadership further stated that the cadre was fully “siddham (ready)” to back Jagan in the upcoming “yuddham (battle)”, which the party is framing as “one versus all”.

In 2019, the YSRCP had nearly swept both the Lok Sabha and Assembly polls. It had won 151 of the 175 Assembly seats and 22 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats. Its primary rival TDP had won 23 Assembly and 3 Lok Sabha seats.

This time, Jagan is pitching the election as a direct contest against the TDP-JSP combine.

Jagan has also said this election would not be a caste war but a class war, with the beneficiaries of his government’s schemes on one side and the TDP-JSP supporters, whom he refers to as “capitalists”, on the other side.

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In speeches at recent public meetings, Jagan has claimed the TDP would not follow through on its poll promises. “Our manifesto is our Bible. But for the TDP, their manifesto goes to the dustbin because they don’t care about the poor. Everyone should know that if they don’t vote for YSRCP, all the welfare will stop. It is all about trust. If Jagan says he will do, he will do it. Jagan makes promises only after thinking, not like Naidu,” he said.

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