YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy’s nine-point formula for the next elections disclosed at the party’s plenary has surprised many.
During his address at the party’s plenary, Jagan doled out several promises like payment of Rs 50,000 per year to farmers for input purchase, establishment of a price stabilisation fund for farmers with Rs 3,000 crore, implementation of prohibition in a phased manner, construction of all pending irrigation projects etc.
Apparently, Jagan’s strategy, which must be definitely suggested by political consultant Prashant Kishor, seems to be gaining an upper hand over the ruling Telugu Desam Party and its president N Chandrababu Naidu since the sops are very attractive to the people. Probably, he wants to suffocate Naidu and his government with his promises.
But, a shrewd politician never discloses his strategies but plays the cards close to his chest and would take the opponents by surprise by disclosing them at an appropriate time.
Analysts say Jagan should go into the people first with his padayatra and try to understand their real needs. And based on the feedback he would get, he should have announced his sops that would be incorporated in his manifesto.
This would have been more realistic than making ad hoc promises. Apparently, Jagan wants to fill the gaps that are left by Naidu in his administration.
In fact, none of his nine promises has any novelty in it including payment of Rs 50,000 to farmers, which was a straight lift from the Telangana Rashtra Samithi in Telangana.
And he sought to play to the gallery by talking about prohibition, which has turned out to be a mega failure across the country.
By disclosing all his weapons, Jagan has now given an opportunity to his rival Naidu to come out with more innovative promises in his election manifesto, say analysts.
