Why is YSRCP general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Vijayasai Reddy being so obsequious towards the BJP at the Centre? Why is he pandering to the BJP so much? This question is baffling the political class in the Telugu states. For a local party with such a huge majority, he is being too meek while dealing with the BJP. This is the general opinion in political circles.

Vijaysai Reddy has not just backed the JK policy of the BJP, but even praised it. The parliamentary standing committee on commerce , which is headed by Vijaysai Reddy, has lauded the hike in allocations for the Ladakh and the JK. Interestingly, Ladakh does not have a capital. Yet, Vijaysai lauded the allocations.

Ironically, the BJP is showing more affection towards Ladakh and is ignored the claims of Andhra Pradesh. Though the committee led by Vijaysai Reddy did say that the Centre should show the same kind of affection towards other states like Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and AP, whoch had lost their capitals due to bifurcation. They also recommented a 10-year special package to these states. But, did not press for it.

It clearly shows that the YSRCP and Vijayasai Reddy are in no mood to fight with the Centre on any issue. The tone is not aggressive but meek . This is being trolled by the netizens to no end. They are questioning as to why he had failed to get even a single rupee as special fund for the state. They pointed out that the special status is already a dead subject due to the inaction of both the ruling party and the Opposition. Now looking at the obsequious body language of Vijaysai , it is clear that the AP is not going to get anything for the state.

Rampant groupism in Anantapur YSRCP has turned out to be a major source of headache for the government employees, especially the village secretaries. The elected people’s representatives are now trying to control the village secretaries and are said to be harassing them.

Ever since Jagan brought in the village secretariat system, the elected people’s representatives have no real power in their constituencies. Everything is routed through the village secretaries. YS Jagan has established a direct connection with the village secretariats and the elected MLAs, councilors and municipal chairpersons have no direct role in the disbursal of pensions and awarding of the schemes. As a result, no one is consulting these leaders these days.

To tame the officials and employees, the elected people’s representatives of the YSRCP are now threatening them with ACB cases. As a result, several secretaries are afraid of discharging their duties. They are worried about the harassment by the YSRCP leaders. In Talupula mandal of the district, all the 74 village secretaries, including the local MPDO have proceeded on mass leave in protest against the YSRCP leaders. In Kadiri mandal, local TPO Rahman was threatened by the YSRCP leaders, who said they would beat him to death after trying him to a tree for not doing their bidding.

The situation has come to a pass that the government employees and the village secretaries are now thinking of going on mass leave. With rampant groupism, the pressures have only increased on these staff members. Each faction is trying to impose its will on the government employees and is threatening them with dire consequences if they do not toe their line.

Is the YSRCP going the TDP way? The TDP has lured several YSRCP MLAs into the party, made them Ministers and thus created dual power centres in each constituency. As a result, the groupism grew and the TDP lost the 2019 elections. It appears, the YSRCP too is creating rival centres of power in almost every constituency and this could very well sink the party in 2024.

Take for instance, In West Godavari’s Gopalapuram constituency. The sitting MLA Talari Venkat Rao is feeling insecure because minister Thaneti’s Vanitha’s father Jonnakuti Babaji Rao is the real power centre in the constituency. While Thaneti Vanitha is an MLA from Kovvur, her father was a two-time MLA in Gopalapuram. As a result, he exercises the real authority in the constituency as Venkat Rao is smarting under his domination.

In Palamner, there is a war for supremacy between sitting MLA Venkataiah Goud and former Minister Amarnath Reddy. The party is divided into rival groups and more than fighting the TDP, they are fighting among themselves. The war between Kaikaluru MLA Dulam Nageswara Rao and Minister from Gudivada Kodali Nani is out in the open for all to see. Ditto with defeated YSRCP candidate and former cop Chandragiri Yesu Ratnam and TDP defector Maddali Giri who joined the YSRCP in Guturu.

In Jammalamadugu, the spat between sitting MLA Sudheer Babu and former minister P Ramasubba Reddy is threatening to blow out into a huge crisis. Sudheer Reddy is unrelenting in the hot pursuit of Ramasubba Reddy. Sudheer has instructed the officials in his constituency not to honour any order that Ramasubba Reddy gives. If sources are to be believed, Ramasubba Reddy is planning to leave the YSRCP and rejoin the TDP.

The same situation exists in most constituencies. With rival power centres operating in almost every constituency, the party might suffer very much like the TDP in 2019. Political pundits say that it is about the time this issue is set right at the earliest otherwise the party may have to pay a heavy price in 2024.

Woman Commission chairperson Vasireddy Padma ‘s comments on the recent audio tape leaks of two YSRCP leaders are now making waves. Padma said that there should be a thorough inquiry into the allegations of gender harassment regardless of how high the accused are placed in the society. These comments have now become a hot topic of discussion.

Interestingly, the names of two YSRCP leaders have figured in audio leaks. One is Ambati Rambabu, a ministerial aspirant. The other one is Avanthi Srinivas aka Mutthamsetti Srinivasa Rao, who is currently a minister. While Rambabu is hoping to be accommodated in the ministry, Avanthi Srinivas wants to keep the ministry. Both these leaders are now accused of making indecent proposals to women. The audio tapes have gone viral on social media.

Normally, those facing such allegations issue hot denials and the matter ends there. But, this time around, the Woman’s Commission has stepped in. Though a YSRCP functionary, she said no one would be spared if they were found to harass women. Interestingly, the clips are not about harassment. Secondly, no complaint has been lodged so far by any ‘victim.’ Both the leaders themselves have lodged complaints. Such being the case, why should Vasireddy Padma issue such a statement?

Party sources say that Vasireddy Padma could not have made this statement if she did not have a nod from the top. Otherwise, she would have remained silent. Now the buzz in the YSRCP is that Vasireddy Padma made this comment only because she was told to make it. This perhaps could be a plan of the party’s top leadership to keep these leaders away from the ministerial contest. As of now, both the leaders have denied that the voice in the audio clip was not theirs. Let’s wait and see how things unfold in the YSRCP before the cabinet rejig.