Jagan’s latest decision on controversial National Population Register (NPR) has become a topic of debate in political circles. It is known news that Jagan’s YSRC party supported the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill in the Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha in December 2019. And yet, Jagan now decided to oppose NPR through an assembly resolution. His reverse turn and the possible reasons for the same are discussed and debated a lot.

Jagan’s resolution asking Centre to Revert to 2010 NPR Format:

Jagan tweeted on 3rd March revealing his position on NPR. Even though he didn’t oppose it fully, he asked center to revert to 2010 NPR format. “Some of the questions proposed in the NPR are causing insecurities in the minds of minorities of my state. After elaborate consultations with our party, we have decided to revert the conditions to those prevailing in 2010. To this effect we will also introduce a resolution in the upcoming Assembly session,” says Jagan’s tweet. It is known news that Bihar CM Nitish Kumar also requested similar changes in NPR format.

Jagan’s decision is to ensure Muslims votes in local elections?
NPR has been controversial since the beginning as Muslims are arguing that it is biased and negatively discriminating Muslims. Jagan’s party supporting CAA bill in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha also was keenly observed by Muslim intellectuals. The leaders of the party from the constituencies where Muslim votes are decisive also brought it to the notice of Jagan that there is anti-wave from Muslims on Jagan supporting BJP’s bills in parliaments. It is opined that the same anti-wave may reflect in upcoming local elections. So, at this juncture, Jagan might have taken decision to not agree on NPR in the existing format.

Anti-wave on Jagan?

Jagan has been facing criticism on several aspects in the last 10 months. He started his ruling by focusing on demolishing the constructions of his political rivals. He promised to increase old-age pension from 2000/- to 3,000/- but he increased only to 2,250/-. His other promises like ‘Amma Vodi’ etc came with lots of terms and conditions. He assured of abolishing CPS scheme in one week after coming to power but he is still dillydallying on that. His 3 capital decision and sand issues completely destroyed realty and construction fields in AP. With several other similar decisions backfiring, Jagan seems to have been advised of regaining the confidence of Muslim voters.

We will have to wait and see whether Jagan will stick to his decision even after local polls or he will take another U-turn after local polls to appease Delhi bigwigs.

AP CM Jaganmohan Reddy’s repeated warnings against use of money and liquor have triggered wild speculation on misuse of power by YCP. TDP senior leader JC Diwakar Reddy has already commented that Jagan is going to ensure that majority of local body elections are unanimously won by his partymen. Being in power, the YCP will be able to distribute money in plenty while the opposition parties will have no option but to simply concede the defeat.

Analysts say that Jagan Reddy is going to repeat the same formula adopted by the TRS, which swept local body polls in Telangana local body elections with money and muscle power. Interestingly, AP CM is also using the KCR formula of using all tactics to win majority seats unanimously. For this, targets have been fixed for district leaders while top leaders are already given the task of forming strategies.

Rumour is that the YCP is already prepared to pump in hundreds of crores into the elections. Given these advantages, it would indeed be a big shock if the voters really show an anti-Jagan sentiment as is being expected by the TDP.

AP CM Jaganmohan Reddy has not involved his Deputy Chief Ministers or Ministers or MLAs in any major decision of his government. In the past nine months, he ran administration as a single-man show. He mostly relied on his Advisors and close-knitted group of leaders, who include Vijayasai Reddy, SV Subba Reddy and Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy. Most of his Ministers and MLAs didn’t even know about AP Capital shifting decision till Jagan announced it in the Assembly. But now, in respect of local body elections this month, the CM is fixing responsibilities for Ministers and MLAs. Their careers will be in risk if they fail to win majority sarpanches, MPTCs, ZPTCs, MPPs and ZPPs.

Apparently, Jaganmohan Reddy is treating the local polls as a referendum on his Ministers and MLAs. But, on the other hand, the opposition parties are treating this as a referendum against Jagan Reddy’s Tughlaq regime and its anti-people decisions in the past nine months. Jagan has apparently taken a convenient stand now. If YCP wins these polls, it is because of people’s approval of all his decisions including 3 Capitals. If not, Ministers and MLAs will be blamed and eventually sacrificed.

The previous TDP government extended good subsidy to the poor families to construct own homes under the NTR Housing scheme. Over 10 lakh poor families came forward to utilise this. Most of their houses are completed and some of them are partially completed. They have spent their personal funds by taking loans from private lenders. But now, the Jaganmohan Reddy government is not giving subsidy to them. These arrears now come to about Rs. 300 Cr all over the state.

The poor families are now under lot of pressure for repayment of loans. They are left in a serious debt trap because of the indifference of the YCP government. They have made representations to local officials, Grama Secretariats, Tehsildars and even in Spandana programmes in the District Collectorates. But there was no positive response to them.

As many as 2.6 lakh housing beneficiaries have fully completed their houses. Their condition has become even more pitiable as the private lenders are threatening to take over their houses. These poor beneficiaries are approaching YCP leaders saying that they have voted for YCP in the last elections. But their plea is being ignored just because CM Jagan Reddy is mercilessly against continuing any programme implemented by Chandrababu Naidu.

Jagan’s “Ugadi strategy” behind sudden local bodies elections!

YSRCP supremo and AP CM YS Jaganmohan Reddy has announced to complete elections for all local bodies in Andhra Pradesh within a month all of a sudden.

What prompted Jagan to take this decision all of a sudden?

Political analysts see Jagan’s ‘Ugadi strategy’ behind this sudden decision.

Jagan has announced to distribute 25 lakh house sites to poor for free in AP on the occasion of Ugadi.

Ugadi falls on March 25 and Jagan wants polling for local bodies to be held between March 27 and April 5.

Jagan believes that distributing 25 lakh house sites for poor in AP will create “YSRCP wave” in all the districts just ahead of polling and help YSRCP to win the local body elections.

Moreover, local leaders are creating panic among AP voters that if they do not vote for YSRCP or if YSRCP loses in polls, people will lose their plots.

This is similar to KCR’s strategy to win GHMC elections. Just before GHMC elections, KCR handed over 400 2BHKs for poor in Hyderabad. Local TRS leaders created fears that if TRS wins GHMC polls, all the poor will get 2BHK flats for free and if TRS loses, the 2BHKs scheme will be stopped. It worked out and TRS won with absolute majority in GHMC polls.

Now, Jagan is replicating this model by replacing 2BHK flats with house sites.

It remains to be seen whether Jagan succeeds in this attempt to win local body polls in AP.