Former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has taken a series of crucial decisions ahead of the polls as his party, YSRCP, begins to lose confidence in emerging victoriously out of the elections. Criticism over the arrest of pro-government social media activists and promises to support them have called for internal debates within the party. The decision to withdraw the party from the MLC elections has attracted controversy that has led a significant section of the party’s followers to question the approach of the party.
After a bruising electoral defeat, the YSRCP has announced that it will abstain from participating in the MLC graduate elections in the Krishna-Guntur and East-West Godavari districts. Even though the party had won the Visakhapatnam local body polls after witnessing the coalition government’s victory, it is the second time that the party is staying away from MLC polls, which raises questions over the poll process’s authenticity and impartiality.
The party leadership in YSRCP have expressed skepticism that the process of polling does not offer the voters a peaceful ambiance in the current political climate. Party officials pointed out that their workers are being harassed and falsely implicated in cases, provoking them to take a stand by boycotting the elections.
However, internal opinion is divided: participation would energize the party’s base and boost its morale, say some, while others say withdrawal was the smart move, especially in areas where the party has little chance of winning. One thing, though, is clear: there is nothing to hang onto in this party when it comes to political strategy, at least not yet.
YSRCP’s decision has stirred the future of the party in the region, where this early retreat from the battle of polls would affect the political stature of the party. All eyes will be on Jagan and his leadership team, who are going to deliberate their next move as they handle this situation.