Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy invoked the Mahabharata saga during a massive rally in Medarametla, likening himself to Arjuna and the people of his state to Krishna in the political Kurukshetra.
Addressing a crowd reminiscent of an army, Reddy, the supremo of the YSR Congress Party, portrayed the attendees as his supporters ready to propel the party to victory in the upcoming Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly election, scheduled before May 2024.
“I don’t have alliances with various parties; I am going to the polls alone, and what I have are many star campaigners from poor households,” Reddy declared, referencing the Lok Sabha poll alliance between the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), the Janasena, and the BJP, whom he deemed as commanders without armies.
Reddy criticized former Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu of TDP for past failures in fulfilling promises and securing special category status for Andhra Pradesh, branding Naidu’s manifesto as “deceptive” due to its resemblance to schemes from other states.
In contrast, Reddy promised to continue ongoing welfare schemes without incurring additional costs. He pledged to provide pensions for 66 lakh beneficiaries, free electricity for farmers, subsidized rice distribution, healthcare coverage, fee reimbursement for education, the Sampoorna Poshana program, and midday meals for schoolchildren, with a total expenditure of 52,700 crores.
As the political battle intensifies, Reddy’s invocation of mythological imagery and his commitment to continuing welfare programs signal the beginning of a fervent electoral campaign in Andhra Pradesh.