Hyderabad: As the Andhra Pradesh (AP) elections draw closer, a significant voter outreach initiative has been unveiled by Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) President and Chief Minister, Jaganmohan Reddy.

The campaign’s central message, “Why AP needs Jagan?” has been designed to counter the slogans of the opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP), such as #APvsJagan, #IAmWithBabu, and #PsychoPovaliCycleRaavali (Psycho should exit, cycle should arrive). The TDP is symbolized by a cycle.

Addressing a gathering of approximately 8,000 leaders, including ministers, legislators, regional coordinators, observers, zilla parishad territorial constituency and Mandal parishad territorial constituency members, municipal chairpersons, corporators, district unit presidents, sarpanches, and other party functionaries in Vijayawada, Jagan unveiled his electoral strategy.

In the 2019 state elections, the YSRCP achieved a resounding victory, securing 151 seats and reducing the TDP to a historic low of 23 seats. The party also won 22 Lok Sabha seats that year.

The YSRCP’s campaign will be carried out in two phases from November 1 to December 10, as per the Chief Minister. In the initial phase, YSRCP leaders at the mandal level will visit all households and engage with residents in villages/ward secretariats, elucidating the necessity of the YSRCP’s continued governance for the effective implementation of welfare programs.

In the subsequent phase, local party leaders will raise the YSRCP flag and interact with village elders and families, firmly conveying the message that the YSRCP has treated its election manifesto with utmost importance, implementing 99 percent of its promises from the 2019 elections.

Simultaneously, party volunteers and local representatives will inform the public about how the TDP abandoned its election pledges once in power in 2014, as stated by Jagan.

In May, TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu introduced an introductory manifesto titled ‘Bhavishyathu ki Guarantee’ (assurance for a bright future), featuring promises such as Rs 1,500 monthly financial assistance to every woman aged 18-59, free bus rides for women, and Rs 20,000 annual support to each farmer.

According to the CM, the YSRCP will conduct bus yatras in every assembly constituency from October 25 to December 31, featuring participation from party MLAs, local conveners, and leaders from scheduled castes (SC), scheduled tribes (ST), backward castes (BC), and minority communities.

These yatras will include three public meetings each day to explain to the public how the YSRCP has brought about social justice through various welfare schemes, revolutionizing education, agriculture, healthcare, and medical sectors.

The Jagananna Arogya Suraksha, initiated by Jagan last month to provide dedicated healthcare to the poor, will continue until November 10, with health camps and door-to-door surveys covering 1.6 crore households across the state.

To engage the youth, the government will organize the Aadudham Andhra Pradesh (Let’s Play, Andhra Pradesh) sports festival from December 11 to January 15, as announced by Jagan.

The objective is to identify talented athletes and encourage them to participate in national-level sports and games, he added.

The CM also stated that monthly welfare pensions for the poor and other needy individuals will be increased to the promised amount of Rs 3,000 starting from January. The YSRCP had pledged to raise the Rs 2,000 pension, which was set during the TDP’s rule, to Rs 3,000. It has already been raised thrice by Rs 250 and currently stands at Rs 2,750.

Jagan urged the party’s leaders and cadres to spread the word about the government’s accomplishments, including over Rs 2,35,000 crore in direct benefit transfers under welfare schemes, the creation of 2.07 lakh additional government jobs, and the distribution of 30 lakh house sites to the poor, with a focus on SC, ST, BC, and minority communities. The ultimate goal, he emphasized, is to secure all 175 seats.

In response to these developments, TDP national spokesperson Kommareddy Pattabhiram stated, “The current focal point of discussion is ‘why AP hates Jagan?'”

“People are recalling Jagan’s actions that have derailed AP from its growth trajectory. Livelihoods have been disrupted in the construction sector, and job opportunities in IT have vanished. While the public is burdened with additional taxes, power charges, and more, YSRCP leaders are exploiting state resources,” he explained. “The baseless allegations and the arrest of Naidu have further infuriated the public.”

“We are making ‘Why AP hates Jagan?’ our campaign slogan now,” he added.