The internal squabbles in the ruling YSR Congress are taking a new turn with rivals making open statements against each other. Though there are differences among the leaders across the state, they are coming to the open in some places.

TDP MLA from Visakhapatnam South, Vasupalli Ganesh who has been with the YSR Congress for the past two years had now quit his post of the constituency incharge due to the unrest in the party.

The squabbles in Gannavaram Assembly constituency of Krishna district have been open with the leaders complaining against each other to the party leadership. Though the top leadership tried to resolve the disputes, the fire is still on and is spreading strongly.

Senior YSR Congress leader Yarlagadda Venkatrao who lost the 2019 elections to TDP’s Vallabhaneni Vamsi Mohan has started making open statements against Vamsi, who defected the TDP and joined the YSR Congress. He declared that he would contest in the next elections without any doubt.

Vamsi reacted to this statement and said he would not take those statements seriously. He said he is working for the party following the directions from chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The chief minister resolved the dispute between these two leaders two years ago, but they seem to be growing strong even now. Venkatrao was made the District Cooperative Central Bank chairman to subside the differences.

Another senior leader, Dr Dutta Ramachandra Rao too complained against Vamsi and the issue is yet to be resolved.

In Machilipatnam, local MLA and former minister Perni Nani had locked horns with local MP Vallabhaneni Balashowry. The two leaders are issuing open statements against each other. They are also stopping the programmes of each other and they don’t see eye to eye now.

The differences between sitting MLA Karanam Balaram and former MLA Amanchi Krishna Mohan continue to disturb the party in Chirala of Bapatla district. While Jagan Mohan Reddy wants the leaders to set their differences aside and work to win all 175 Assembly seats in the next elections, the leaders are engaged in internal fights that would damage the party prospects.

The YSR Congress has lost one of its MPs soon after the 2019 elections. Since then, the MP had been voicing against the party leadership and the government, becoming a big headache to the leadership.

The MP is Kanumuru Raghurama Krishnam Raju from Narasapuram constituency in West Godavari district. There is not a single day left without Raghurama Krishnam Raju criticising the government through the media. He had also filed several cases against the state government and party chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy in the last three years.

Though the party tried to get him suspended from Parliament, it could not succeed in that and the MP continues to be thorn in the flesh of the party.

There are now at least two more MPs who have been keeping away from the party leadership and not being available.

Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy has been silent and is not available for the party for the past two years. He is not meeting the party chief or attending the party programmes either in the state or in his own constituency.

He is said to be having differences with the government over his liquor sales in the state. He owns the liquor distilleries and is a major liquor distributor.

Now, after three years, another MP from Narasaraopet in Palnadu district, Lavu Sri Krishna Devarayalu, is also said to be unavailable for the party leadership. He is not in touch with the party leadership, though not making any adverse comments against the party.

The MP did not attend the minister’s bus yatra in his constituency. He did not even attend the public meeting held by the BC Ministers held in Narasaraopet in the last week of May. The MP is also said to be not answering the calls of the party top leaders and it is said that he had made up his mind to move away from the party!

Andhra Pradesh’s ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) will hold its plenary on July 8-9, the first since the party came to power in 2019.

Being held after completion of three years, the plenary is likely to prepare the roadmap to bring the party back to power in the 2024 elections.

Chief Minister and YSR Party President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has decided to hold the conclave at a suitable place between Guntur and Vijayawada.

The ruling party decided to hold the plenary on the occasion of birth anniversary of his father and former Chief Minister (of undivided Andhra Pradesh) Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (July 8).

The decision came a week after main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP) held its annual conclave ‘Mahanadu’ at Ongole on May 27-28. Every year, the TDP holds the conclave to mark the birth anniversary of its founder and former Chief Minister N. T. Rama Rao (May 28).

As the success of ‘Mahanadu’ has infused new enthusiasm among TDP cadres, YSRCP leaders reportedly felt the need to work out a strategy to stop Chandrababu Naidu-led party from bouncing back.

At ‘Mahanadu’, Chandrababu Naidu launched an all-out attack against Jagan Mohan Reddy for his alleged misrule and urged party cadres to go to people with the slogan ‘Quit Jagan, save Andhra Pradesh’.

At the plenary, the top leadership of the YSRCP is likely to discuss and decide a strategy to counter “misinformation” being spread by the TDP and educate people on the development and welfare schemes undertaken by the government.

There are also speculations that the YSRCP may go for early polls to deny opposition parties a chance to come together or revive their activities.

The plenary is expected to give a roadmap to the party leaders on bringing the party back to power. Jagan Mohan Reddy is likely to set direction for the party leaders to achieve the target.

Party sources said he will ask the party leaders to go to people to counter the “false propaganda of the opposition” and explain to them how the YSRCP fulfilled 95 per cent of its poll promises.

Leaders, who were dropped from Cabinet in April, may be given specific tasks to gear up the party for the polls. While revamping the state cabinet, Jagan Mohan Reddy had made it clear that those being dropped will be entrusted with the responsibilities in the party. He had also told them that if the party returns to power, they will again find a place in the Cabinet.

The party units from village to district levels are likely to be reorganised. Since the number of districts has been doubled to 26, the ruling party will focus on newly carved out districts by constituting party committees at various levels.

Party leaders said 50 per cent reservation will be given to women in these committees. Adequate representation will be given to SCs, STs, BCs and minorities.

YSRCP General Secretary and Rajya Sabha member V. Vijayasai Reddy told the party leaders that the party plans to organise the plenary in a grand manner. He asked party MLAs, constituency incharges, district presidents and coordinators to ensure successful conduct of the plenary.

The party will constitute different committees to conduct the event.

Since the elections are scheduled to be held in two years, Jagan Reddy wants party leaders to be ready to face the polls and work unitedly.

As differences in the party units became public in few districts, the plenary will exhort on the need for unity. The leaders will be asked to resolve the differences amicably and avoid groupism.

The BC ministers from AP have decided to conduct bus yatra in the state for four days to highlight the achievements of the government.

The ministers would also explain to the people various initiatives of the government for the welfare of the BCs. They would speak about the representation given to the BCs in different nominated posts including those to Rajya Sabha, where the party has four BCs out of nine.

The bus yatra would start at Srikakulam with a public meeting on May 26 followed by public meetings at Rajamahendravaram on May 27, Narasaraopet on May 28 and Ananthapur on May 29.

The ministers, MLAs, MLCs, MPs and the corporation chairpersons representing the BCs would be accompanying the ministers in the bus yatra, while the BC leaders in the respective areas join the rallies.

However, it is not known whether Rajya Sabha-nominee R Krishnaiah would join the bus yatra. It would add some flavour to the yatra if Krishnaiah joins as he is closely associated with several BC organisations in the two Telugu states for the past three decades.