Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy left to New Delhi on Monday to meet a group of central ministers. After taking part in the last rites of his father-in-law E C Gangi Reddy who died last week while undergoing treatment for illness in a corporate hospital in Hyderabad. The last rites were performed at Pulivendula in Kadapa district.

After the last rites, Jagan headed to Gannavaram airport to board a flight to New Delhi along with 10 party leaders, including MPs and ministers. The Chief Minister received an appointment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday. However, the appointment could be cancelled as the PM has other programmes to attend. During his visit, Jagan will meet Union Ministers Nirmala Sitaraman and Shekhawat to appeal for early release of central funds that are due to the state.

Jagan will seek the pending 14th Finance Commission grants for local bodies amounting to Rs 2,253 crore, GST compensation dues of Rs 3,622 crore, Polavaram dues ofRs 4,006 crore among others. Jagan is likely to request the Prime Minister to order a CBI probe investigation into the alleged Amaravati land and Fibernet scandals and the recent Antarvedi chariot fire incident.

The Chief Minister will discuss with the central ministers on the issue of pending projects. Jagan will take part in the Apex Council meeting with Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao via video conference from Delhi. Jagan is accompanied by top officials from the Water Resources department to present the government’s arguments on water sharing with Telangana. The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to push for notification of the jurisdiction of the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB)and Godavari River Management Board (GRMB) in the second Apex Council meeting so that operational control of all projects will be under the boards’ control.

Telangana Chief Minister last week had written to Union Jal Shakti minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat accusing the Krishna River Management Board (KRMB) constituted for water sharing between the two states of being biased against Telangana and favouring Andhra Pradesh. The Telangana government is opposing AP’s move to expand the capacity Pothireddypadu head regulator on the Srisailam reservoir to draw 80,000 cusecs of water from the Krishna river to Pennar basin. Jagan had recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah on September 22 and 23.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a call to every Indian to clap or ring bells for the frontline warriors including nurses, doctors, cleaners, transport workers, police personnel to send out a message of appreciation.

Taking a cue from the PM, Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy gave a call to people of Andhra Pradesh to clap their hands appreciating the work being done by the ward and village volunteers. He appealed to the people of Andhra Pradesh to gather outside their balconies at 7 pm today to show appreciation to the ward and village volunteers by clapping their hands.

Jaganmohan Reddy launched the ambitious village secretariat system, known as AP Grama Sachivalayam, on the occasion of the 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi in East Godavari district. The system is modeled on the lines of Gandhiji’s ‘Grama Swarajya concept. The AP Grama Sachivalayam aims to decentralize democracy and provide more power to villages. Since October 2 is the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi, Jagan appealed to the people of Andhra Pradesh to clap for the village and ward volunteers

The system was launched on August 15. The system is expected to render 500 services at the doorsteps of people in all villages across the state and promote the state government’s welfare schemes. The state government had set up a total of 11,158 villages secretariats and 3,786 ward secretariats across the state. Each village secretariat will have 11 to 12 volunteers, every volunteer will be incharge of 50 households in villages and 100 households in a municipal ward in urban areas.

AP Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has become popular all over the country with his trademark Cash Transfer schemes. The rival may call it a votebank political game that is hurtful to the State. But, the CM is becoming increasingly confident of his ultra welfare schemes. Now, CM Jagan is taking new bold moves. He has launched a fresh ‘YSR Jala Kala’ scheme to give free pumpsets to over 2 lakh farmers.

The Chief Minister has asserted that he is implementing this new free scheme thought it was not there in the election promises. The YCP Government was implementing new welfare programmes which were not promised in its manifesto. The CM has proudly announced that even the current meters for these new pumpsets would be freely given. All these costs would be borne by the Government though it would mean an additional burden of over Rs. 1,600 Cr.

The free pumpsets scheme would benefit farmers in over 144 rural assembly constituencies and also in over 19 semi urban constituencies. The ruling party is asserting that this scheme is being given though not in Jagan’s promises. It is only to benefit the small and marginal farmers.

No political party or group is able to rightly assess which kind of agenda that CM Jaganmohan Reddy is following in Andhra Pradesh. The Hindu organisations are accusing him of implementing an outright Christian agenda. The ongoing attacks and burning of sacred chariots in temples were shown as proof of this. But, on the other hand, the Dalit organisations are saying that Jagan Reddy was secretly pursuing an RSS agenda with utter disregard for the oppressed sections.

As far as creating confusion in his opponents, the Jagan regime has succeeded to a large extent with both the Hindu and Christian groups expressing mixed feelings against it. At the time of elections in 2019, it was a different scenario altogether. At that time, while the Christian groups wholly owned Jagan as their family member, some Hindu groups have talked about the ‘homecoming’ or ‘ghar vapsi’ of CM. There was a huge publicity about how Jagan Reddy had a holy dip in the Ganga river.

However, just as he created so much confusion over his approach to politics of religion before elections, Jagan Reddy is continuing the same even after coming to power. But, it is just with a twist. This time, both religious groups are blaming him.

Analysts say that being a leader with unquestioned supreme command over his party, Jagan Reddy is right not able to pursue his own hidden agenda. Some say he is pursuing his caste agenda going by 99 per cent top posts being enjoyed by his caste. Others say Jagan is biased towards weaker sections going by top officials and Deputy CMs given to them. Whatever, the final agenda that Jagan is following must obviously be the mission to stay in power for the next 30 years.

AP Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy has instructed the Joint Collectors in the districts to closely monitor and ensure better prices for the crops of farmers. All steps should be taken to make sure that farmers get the minimum support price. The CM has held a review meeting on the purchase and prices for agricultural produce. He told the officials to use the Rythu Bharosa Kendras as multi-purpose centres in villages. Through these kendras alone the purchase of crops should be carried out in future.

Mr. Jagan Reddy said that the Rythu Kendras should not only provide information but also take steps for getting better prices. They should also ensure that the money reaches the farmers correctly without any exploitation in the process. Wherever required, new Rythu Kendras should be opened. Cotton should also be purchased through these kendras. The officials should take preventive steps against any scams in cotton purchases in the State.

The CM stressed the need for using e-marketing platforms to collect latest data. This would help to assess trends in prices in advance so as to ensure a better deal to the farmers.

The CM issued instructions to the officials to involve the local people’s representatives and the MLAs actively in the administration of the Rythu Kendras. Advice should be given to farmers regularly to cultivate a particular set of crops in their respective areas. Special display boards should be set up at all the kendras for this purpose.

Srikalahasti MLA Biyyapu Madhusudhan Reddy has been at the centre of controversies for organising huge rallies at a time of rapid Coronavirus infections. His rallies were one of the reasons for outbreak of Covid in his town. Later, the MLA himself fell ill with infection and recovered. During CM Jaganmohan Reddy’s visit to Tirupati, the MLA along with his daughter went and greeted him.

As there was a huge crowd around the CM, the MLA did not remove his face mask during their conversation. But when they were taking a photo, the Chief Minister commented humorously how the MLAs can get a good photo without removing the mask. All the party leaders present on the occasion burst into laughter.

For a moment, Madhusudhan Reddy was surprised and then immediately removed his face mask along with his daughter. They took photo with the CM and left. The incident triggered a debate in political circles whether it was correct on the part of the CM not to wear face mask during his entire Tirumala tour.

Most of the other leaders wore masks. The TTD officials were taking all precautions, including the archakas. When the Covid infection preventive measures are still in force, the CM’s casual manner of taking things has drawn criticism once again.