Praja Sankalpa Yatra, YS Jagan’s Historic March For The People

With a mission to rescue the government's administrative eco-system from Chandrababu's corrupt practices and to safeguard the Constitutional spirit in Andhra Pradesh, Leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh Assembly and YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy began his mass contact initiative Praja Sankalpa Yatra on 6 November, 2017 from Idupulapaya in YSR Kadapa district.

In the course of his padayatra, YS Jagan witnessed the struggles of the downtrodden and instilled hope in various sections of society, including farmers, whose lives have been hit by floods and droughts in the last four years. The YSRCP chief felt deeply perturbed with the situation of the distressed farmers, who were denied the already promised loan waiver, the fresh loans, and input subsidies. On the other side, he also had the opportunity to witness the dangers of ignoring the Aarogyasri scheme.

YS Jagan met scores of people who were on the verge of migrating to other places in search of employment opportunities. He was approached by thousands of students and the unemployed youth, who poured out their woes to him..

The Opposition leader announced Navaratnas, an umbrella of schemes which cover various issues pertaining to all sections of society in a comprehensive manner. With a firm stance on the Special Category Status (SCS), YS Jagan kept fighting at the national and state level. Even AP CM Chandrababu Naidu was compelled to join the YSRCP's stance in its demand for SCS, after the TDP's prolonged support for a special package. YS Jagan, who believes in democratic values, is looking forward to the public's mandate in the upcoming elections.

In scorching heat, pouring rains and biting cold weather, not to speak of the hurdles put by Chandrababu constantly to halt his march, YS Jagan kept the momentum of the Padayatra going. He stood undeterred even as TDP created legal hurdles through Court cases and a murder attempt in Vizag airport. YS Jagan would have crisscrossed 3,600-3,700 kms in the State with the blessings of 5 crore people by 9 January, 2019, when he would reach Ichchapuram in Srikakulam district. With his astounding and unparalleled padayatra, YS Jagan proved that only the YSR family is capable of pulling off certain missions of this scale.

Events in chronological order prior to padayatra's commencement:

27 October, 2017: The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Legislative Party decided to boycott the Assembly session in demand for the announcement of the defected MLAs as expelled.

6 November, 2017: YS Jagan began his padayatra with a mission to stand by the vulnerable sections across the State and to intensify the demand for SCS.

10 February, 2018: In his public meeting address in Kavali constituency of Nellore district, YS Jagan explained to the people Chandrababu's self-interests and selfish attitude after Chandrababu's boasting of 'extracting the highest funds from the Centre."

13 February, 2018: YS Jagan intensified the fight for SCS at Kaligiri Mandal in Udayagiri constituency of Nellore district. He had announced that the YSRCP MPs would resign from their posts if the SCS is not accorded by the last Parliament session of this term. "Don't cheat us with a special package, Chandrababu," he said in the meeting.

15 February, 2018: Addressing an interactive meet with the women in Renamala of Nellore district, YS Jagan invited Chandrababu to come forward and make the TDP MPs resign along with the YSRCP MPs.

19 February, 2018: In Kandukuru of Prakasam district, YS Jagan accepted Jana Sena founder Pawan Kalyan's idea of moving a no-confidence motion saying that YSRCP would be ready to move the No-Trust vote to achieve the SCS.

8 March, 2018: Owing to YS Jagan's intense fight for SCS, two TDP ministers resigned from the Union cabinet.

15 March, 2018: Chandrababu had to follow in the footsteps of YSRCP after it had given a notice to the Lok Sabha Speaker moving the No Confidence Motion.

6 April, 2018: The YSRCP MLAs resigned from their posts in protest against the Centre's attitude in granting the SCS. The resignations have been accepted on 21 March, 2018.

- In the following consequences, the TDP, contrary to its principles, joined hands with the Congress. In the Telangana Assembly elections, the Congress-TDP alliance saw a humiliating defeat.

List of leaders who had joined YSRCP during YS Jagan's padayatra:

YSR Kadapa district

1. C. Ramachandraiah, former minister and Rajya Sabha members joined the party from Congress.

Kurnool district

1. Katasani Rambhupal Reddy, former MLA from Panyam joined the party from BJP.

2. Mohammed Iqbal, retired IPS

3. Byreddy Siddhartha Reddy, Nandikotkur coordinator

Anantapur district

1. Abdul Ghani, former Hindupur MLA joined from TDP

2. Bodimalla Gurunadha Reddy, Former Anantapur MLA joined the YSRCP from TDP

Chittoor district

1. Dr Mohammed Iqbal, joined the party from TDP

Nellore district

1. Anam Ramnarayan Reddy, former minister joined the party from TDP

2. Vemireddy Prabhakar Reddy, Rajya Sabha member

3. Nedurumalli Ramkumar Reddy, son of former CM N Janardhan Reddy

Prakasam district

1. Manugunta Mahidhar Reddy, former minister joined YSRCP from Congress

2. Anna Venkatarambabu, former MLA, Giddaluru, joined from TDP

Guntur district

1. Vidudala Rajani, Chilakaluripeta coordinator, joined the party from TDP

2. Chandragiri Yesurathnam, former DIG, Guntur West constituency

3. Dr Undavalli Sridevi, Thadikonda

Krishna district

1. Vasantha Krishna Prasad from Mylavaram joined the party from TDP

2. Yalamchili Ravi, former MLA joined YSRCP from TDP

West Godavari district

1. Gadiraju Subbaraju, Bhimavaram coordinator

2. Cherukuwada Sriranganadha Raju, Achanta constituency

3. Maddala Sunitha, former Gopalapuram MLA.

East Godavari district

1. Ponnada Satish, former Mummadivaram MLA joined YSRCP from TDP

2. Bommana Raj Kumar, BC leader

3. Davulluri Dorababu, Peddapuram

4. Margani Nageshwara Rao, BC leader

Visakhapatnam district

1. UV Ramanamurthy Raju, former MLA of Yalamanchili joined YSRCP from TDP

2. MVV Satyanarayana, Visakhapatnam parliamentary constituency

3. Kumba Ravi Babu, former Araku MLA

4. Gotteti Madhavi, Chintapalli former MLA

5. Dr Ramana Murthy, Visakhapatnam South constituency coordinator

6. KK Raju, Visakhapatnam North constituency coordinator

7. Prem Babu, retired police officer

Vizianagaram district

1. Shambangi Venkata Chinnappalanaidu, former Bobbili MLA

Srikakulam district

1. Bammidi Narayana Swami, former MLA, Tekkali joined YSRCP from Congress

2. Naresh Kumar Agarwal, former Ichchapuram MLA

Also Read: YSRCP Navaratnalu: What’s In It For You