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Jagan Mohan Reddy: The stronghold of the YSR clan on the Pulivendula Assembly constituency has endured for more than forty years, where election outcomes were seldom uncertain, often merely awaiting the revelation of victory margins.
From Yeduguru Sandinti Rajasekhara (YSR) Reddy to subsequent family members including his brother, uncle, wife, and son, all have served this constituency in Kadapa, now named after the late Chief Minister.
Despite breaking away from the Congress, which his father was affiliated with until his tragic demise in a helicopter crash in 2009, and despite founding the YSR Congress, Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy ensured the family’s firm hold on the constituency.
His triumph in 2019 marked Jagan as the second MLA from Pulivendula to ascend to the role of Chief Minister, following in his father’s footsteps. However, now, five years later, he faces not only the challenge of maintaining power but also contends with a robust opposition on his home turf.
While the ruling YSR Congress crafted the slogan ‘Why not 175’ to aim for a clean sweep in Assembly polls, the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) countered with ‘Why not Pulivendula.’
While Jagan sought to challenge TDP’s stronghold in Kuppam, his opponents, in turn, brought the battle to his doorstep.
In the upcoming elections on May 13, the TDP, in alliance with the Jana Sena and BJP, is striving to upset Jagan’s dominance in his hometown.
TDP’s Mareddy Ravindranath Reddy, nicknamed ‘B.Tech’ Ravi, is vigorously campaigning to prevent Jagan from securing a hat-trick in Pulivendula. However, Jagan faces additional challenges stemming from family discord.
His sister Y. S. Sharmila, who had supported him in every election since the founding of YSRCP in 2011, has now joined the rival Congress and is contesting the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency against their cousin and incumbent MP Y. S. Avinash Reddy.
Pulivendula is one of the seven Assembly segments of the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency, historically considered a bastion of the YSR family. Yet, internal strife fueled by allegations surrounding the murder of their uncle and former minister Y. Vivekananda Reddy has disrupted Jagan’s footing.
Vivekananda Reddy’s murder, just days before the 2019 elections, resurfaces as a significant issue five years later, with his daughter Y. S. Suneetha aligning with Sharmila in seeking justice.
The cousins question Jagan’s decision to field Avinash Reddy again, despite being named as an accused by the CBI. Jagan’s claim that his sisters were misled by the TDP has only intensified the scrutiny, with the duo urging people to vote against him for shielding the murder accused.
Such challenges are unprecedented for the YSR family since YSR first won Pulivendula in 1978. After serving three terms as MLA, YSR contested and won Lok Sabha polls from Kadapa, passing the Pulivendula baton to his younger brother Vivekananda Reddy. YSR returned to Pulivendula in 1999 and concentrated on Andhra Pradesh’s politics.
YSR’s political zenith arrived in 2004 when he led the Congress to power, retaining it in 2009 until his tragic demise in a helicopter crash. In the subsequent by-election, YSR’s wife Y. S. Vijayamma won uncontested from Pulivendula as a Congress candidate. However, the rift caused by Jagan’s rebellion against the Congress leadership altered the political landscape dramatically.
Jagan and his mother resigned from Congress, establishing the YSR Congress and forcing by-polls in 2011. Vijayamma retained the Pulivendula seat, defeating her brother-in-law and Congress candidate Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy by a significant margin. Jagan Mohan Reddy won the Kadapa parliamentary seat by a landslide victory.
Following Andhra Pradesh’s bifurcation, Jagan contested from Pulivendula in the 2014 polls, while Avinash Reddy took over Kadapa. Jagan Mohan Reddy victory margin increased from 75,243 in 2014 to 90,000 in 2019 against TDP’s S. V. Satish Reddy.
B. Tech Ravi, TDP’s candidate, aims to seize Pulivendula this time, banking on anti-incumbency sentiments and the YSR family rift.
Interestingly, B.Tech Ravi had defeated Vivekananda Reddy in the 2017 MLC elections from Kadapa local authorities constituency, contesting as a TDP candidate.
The main opposition party, which established its office in Pulivendula just last year, is diligently working to loosen Jagan’s grip on the constituency.
Sharmila has fielded Dhruva Kumar Reddy as the Congress candidate against her brother, further complicating Jagan’s electoral landscape.
Additionally, Shaik Dastagiri, a former accused turned approver in the Vivekananda Reddy murder case, has entered the race under the Jai Bhim Rao Bharat Party banner.
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