For the last few days, the opposition parties in Andhra Pradesh and the pro-Telugu Desam Party media have been euphoric over the latest Mood of the Nation survey conducted by popular English magazine India Today stating that the popularity graph of chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has gone down drastically.
They have already come to the conclusion that Jagan would definitely lose the next assembly elections in the state, if they are held now, as 81 per cent of the people are unhappy with his government.
But senior Congress leader and former Rajya Sabha member K V P Ramachandra Rao, who had been a bosom friend of Jagan’s father late Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, has a different opinion. According to him, Jagan is still invincible in Andhra Pradesh.
In an interview to a media house, KVP said he had lost touch with Jagan after the latter came out of the Congress and floated his own YSR Congress party.
“When he was in the Congress party, we used to share our views on a number of issues. But there are no such equations now, though the relations between the two families still continue to be the same,” he said.
Analysing Jagan’s strength, KVP reminded that even before coming to power in 2019, Jagan had been a strong leader. The YSRC had won almost all the by-elections before 2014.
“In the by-elections to Nellore Lok Sabha seat, YSRC candidate Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy had won with huge majority over Congress candidate Subbarami Reddy and the TDP had lost its deposit,” he recalled.
Indicating that Jagan was still a powerful leader, KVP refused to comment on whether Jagan would be able to return to power in 2024.
“He still commands a lot of support among the people. But I am not an astrologer to predict the outcome of the elections to be held after two and a half years,” he said.
Reacting to the criticism being faced by Jagan from various quarters, the senior Congress leader reminded that even YSR had faced similar criticism before he had taken up the padayatra in 2003.
“But after padayatra, there was a lot of change in YSR’s attitude,” he said, indicating that Jagan would become a polished leader in due course of time.
KVP, however, gave an indirect advice to Jagan to follow YSR’s style.
“When he had to take crucial decisions, YSR used to consult seniors like Rosaiah, ministers and advisors. Jagan also should do the same thing. He should discuss with experts, seniors and advisors before taking any important decisions. Only then can he find solutions to various problems,” KVP said.
He refused to comment on the criticism that Jagan won’t listen to anybody’s advice but takes unilateral decisions.
