The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), a former political giant of Andhra Pradesh, is facing a hard way to come back after its crushing defeat in the 2024 general elections. Having a strong 151 seats, the party could not even gain the tag of principal opposition — a plummet that has shaken its cadres.
Party leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who has been keeping a low profile for the most part since the defeat, has been spending long hours at his Bengaluru home, visiting the party headquarters in Tadepalli only occasionally. His long silence has raised eyebrows, but loyalists think he’s plotting his next move.
Amid this uncertain phase, senior leader and former minister Gudivada Amarnath has reignited hopes within the party. Speaking at a key party meeting in Visakhapatnam on Monday, Amarnath announced that Jagan will undertake a massive padayatra in 2027 — calling it Padayatra 2.0 — aimed at reconnecting with the masses and rebuilding the party’s ground strength.
Encouraging party workers to stay committed, Amarnath remarked, “Five years will pass before we know it. We’ve already completed one year; just four more to go. If we stay united and patient, YSRCP will return to power.” He emphasized that this confidence wasn’t just his belief but came directly from Jagan himself.
In a candid message, Amarnath urged workers not to dwell on past disappointments. “Those who want to stay in the party should stay,” he said, signaling a no-nonsense approach to internal dissent. His words suggested that the party won’t be pleading with those who wish to exit.
Looking ahead, Amarnath outlined plans to reorganize party committees over the next year, followed by a series of statewide initiatives to energize the cadre. He highlighted that public frustration with the current coalition government is already brewing, with many citizens reportedly asking when Jagan will hit the road again with a padayatra.
“The responsibility to lead this padayatra rests solely with Jagan,” Amarnath affirmed, positioning the walkathon as a pivotal step toward a political resurgence.
He didn’t hold back in his criticism of the current government, accusing them of failing welfare beneficiaries. “New pensions are being sanctioned only when an existing recipient dies,” he alleged, pointing to growing discontent among the people.
Targeting Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, Amarnath issued a sharp warning: “The people of Andhra Pradesh have been betrayed by Chandrababu four times already. If they trust him a fifth time, even God won’t be able to save them.”
As YSRCP looks to regroup, the proposed Padayatra 2.0 could mark a crucial chapter in the party’s attempt to reclaim political ground in Andhra Pradesh.