As 2025 is coming to an end, political analysts using various forums to make an assessment of the state of affairs in each political party in Andhra Pradesh and the leaders heading these parties.
One such assessment made by an analyst on social media about YSR Congress party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and the state of affairs in the party has made an interesting reading, though the party leaders and fans of Jagan might not agree with many of the observations.
According to this analyst, the downfall of the party was not caused by the Telugu Desam Party or Jana Sena Party, but by Jagan Mohan Reddy’s own choices, lack of introspection, and continued dependence on a coterie that allegedly alienated party cadres, social groups, and traditional vote banks.
The coterie, the analyst says, comprises 12 main persons, who he calls “dirty dozen,” who were responsible for misleading Jagan and created a negative impact among the people. They are (not necessarily in the same order):
1. Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy
Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy of becoming a “wall” between Jagan Mohan Reddy and party leaders, MLAs, and MPs, thereby creating a massive communication gap.
He is alleged to have prevented ministers from functioning independently and exercised control over every administrative wing.
Sajjala behaved as though the YSRCP was a “circus” with himself as the ringmaster, fostering resentment and organisational decay.
2. R K Roja
Former minister RK Roja is accused of lacking basic public decorum, making double-meaning remarks, and engaging in behaviour that caused embarrassment.
Her conduct generated strong anti-YSRCP sentiment, particularly among women voters, and damaged the party’s public image.
3. Perni Nani
Perni Nani spoke without restraint, issued unnecessary political challenges, and used abusive language, especially against Pawan Kalyan. This led to widespread anger among Kapu voters, turning the entire community against the YSRCP.
4. Vallabhaneni Vamsi
Vallabhaneni Vamsi is accused of targeting the family of N Chandrababu Naidu using highly offensive language.
His remarks inflamed TDP cadres and contributed directly to a determined electoral backlash. His statements played a key role in enabling the “strong comeback” of Nara Lokesh.
5. Kodali Nani
Former minister Kodali Nani is described as using street-level abusive language and vulgar expressions, creating a perception among neutral voters that YSRCP politics had descended to its lowest level.
His repeated attacks on the Naidu family, energised the TDP cadres and consolidated the opposition votes.
6. Anil Kumar Yadav
Former minister Anil Kumar Yadav’s aggressive rhetoric caused the Nellore Reddy community — described as one of the party’s strongest pillars — to drift away en masse from the YSRCP.
Promoting him as a BC leader, despite his lack of understanding of BC political issues, triggered resentment among backward classes as well.
7. Ambati Rambabu
Ambati Rambabu’s loud-mouth character speaking without clarity or purpose, contributing to the collapse of the party’s base across the Guntur–Palnadu region.
His abrasive voice, crude jokes, and “comedy dances” on television irritated viewers and reinforced a public perception that the YSRCP had become a party lacking dignity and seriousness.
8. Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy
Senior leader Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy is accused of controlling mining, sand, and other illegal operations, allegedly plundering state resources.
The stories that appeared in the media against Peddireddy caused even party workers to conclude that the YSRCP had become synonymous with corruption.
9. Y S Avinash Reddy
Kadapa MP Y S Avinash Reddy’s alleged implication in the murder case of his uncle, Y S Vivekananda Reddy, and the party leadership’s support for him damaged both the YSRCP’s traditional Kadapa vote bank and Jagan Mohan Reddy’s image regarding family values.
10. Sajjala Bhargav Reddy
Sajjala Bhargav Reddy is accused of flooding YSRCP social media platforms with abusive language and unruly content, allegedly reducing the party’s image to that of a group of hooligans. This created widespread aversion to the YSRCP among youth active on social media.
11. K Dhanunjaya Reddy
Retired IAS officer K Dhanunjaya Reddy, while in the Chief Minister’s Office, blocked access for party workers and leaders alike. Delays in clearing bills drove many YSRCP workers into debt and financial distress, pushing some to extreme measures.
12. Ananta Babu
Former MLC Ananta Babu is accused of murdering his Dalit driver and later undertaking celebratory rallies after being released from jail. This incident triggered deep resentment among Dalit cadres and became a catalyst for Dalit rebellion against the party.
The analyst says it is surprising that Jagan has still failed to remove this “toxic coterie,” and his lack of self-reflection. The downfall is the result of accumulated internal failures rather than external attacks.
