Y S JAGAN MOHAN REDDY

Jagan Mohan Reddy began his political career with the Indian National Congress and was elected as the Member of Parliament for Kadapa in 2009. Following the death of his father, Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, in a helicopter crash that same year, Jagan embarked on an “Odarpu Yatra” (a consoling tour) across Andhra Pradesh to honor his father’s legacy.

However, Jagan Mohan Reddy eventually left the Indian National Congress and founded his own party, the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP), which carries forward the acronym of his father’s party.

On May 27, 2012, Reddy was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on charges of embezzlement. The charges alleged that he had amassed significant assets through illegal means by leveraging his father’s tenure as Chief Minister. The investigation also involved 58 companies accused of receiving favors in exchange for mining leases and project allotments.

Throughout the legal proceedings, Reddy’s judicial custody was extended multiple times. The Supreme Court of India rejected his bail petitions on several occasions, including on July 4, 2012; August 9, 2012; November 7, 2012; May 9, 2013; and May 13, 2013.

EARLIER LIFE:

Jagan Mohan Reddy was born into a Christian Reddy family in Jammalamadugu, Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh, to Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and Y. S. Vijayamma. He has a younger sister, Y. S. Sharmila, who is also involved in politics.

He attended Hyderabad Public School up to the 12th grade, where he was friends with Telugu actor Sumanth Kumar Yarlagadda. Jagan completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree at Pragathi Mahavidyalaya Degree and PG College in Ram Koti, Hyderabad.

Jagan Mohan Reddy married Bharathi on August 28, 1996. The couple has two daughters, one of whom pursued her undergraduate studies in London.

POLITICAL CAREER:

Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, commonly known as YSR, was a significant figure in Andhra Pradesh politics, serving as Chief Minister from 2004 to 2009. His political journey began with campaigning for the Indian National Congress in the 2004 elections, which set the stage for his eventual election as Member of Parliament from the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency in 2009.

After his father’s death in a helicopter crash in September 2009, Jagan Mohan Reddy undertook an “odarpu yatra” (condolence tour) to visit the families of those who were reportedly affected by the news of his father’s death. This gesture was in line with his promise to address the concerns of those impacted.

Despite directives from the Congress party’s central leadership to halt the yatra, Jagan proceeded with it, citing it as a personal matter. His defiance led to a strained relationship with the Congress high command, eventually contributing to his decision to leave the party and form the YSR Congress Party.

2010–2014: Founding of YSR Congress Party:

Following his conflict with the Congress party high command, Jagan Mohan Reddy resigned from his position as Member of Parliament for the Kadapa constituency and from the Congress party on November 29, 2010. His mother, Y. S. Vijayamma, also resigned from her position as the Member of the Legislative Assembly for the Pulivendula constituency and left the party.

On December 7, 2010, Jagan Mohan Reddy announced from Pulivendula that he would be forming a new political party within 45 days. By March 2011, he officially launched the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) at Jaggampeta in East Godavari district.

The YSRCP quickly gained significant traction in the region. In the subsequent by-elections, the party won nearly all the contested seats in Kadapa district with impressive majorities. Jagan Mohan Reddy himself contested the by-election for the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat and won with a commanding margin of 545,043 votes. His mother, Y. S. Vijayamma, also secured a victory in the Pulivendula Assembly constituency by 85,193 votes, defeating Y. S. Vivekananda Reddy.

2014–2019: Leader of opposition and Padayatra:

In the 2014 Andhra Pradesh state elections, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) was considered a strong contender by many analysts. However, the party faced a setback, winning only 67 out of 175 seats in the state assembly despite securing 45% of the vote share. The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) achieved a higher vote share of 47%, and the 2% gap contributed to YSRCP’s loss in the elections.

As the Leader of the Opposition and president of YSRCP, Jagan Mohan Reddy launched a significant political initiative known as the Praja Sankalpa Yatra, or padayatra, on November 6, 2017. This 3,000-km-long walkathon started from Idupulapaya in Kadapa district and was designed to connect with voters across Andhra Pradesh. The padayatra covered 125 Assembly segments over 430 days and concluded on January 9, 2019. The party used the slogan “Raavali Jagan, Kaavali Jagan” (Jagan should come. We want Jagan.) to rally support during the march.

On October 25, 2018, Jagan Mohan Reddy was attacked with a cockfighting knife while boarding a flight to Hyderabad at the VIP Lounge of Visakhapatnam Airport. The attack caused a lacerated injury to his shoulder, requiring him to undergo surgery.

2019–2024: As Chief Minister:

In the 2019 national and state elections held in April and May, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) achieved a remarkable victory, securing 151 out of 175 assembly seats and 22 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in Andhra Pradesh. Jagan Mohan Reddy assumed office as Chief Minister on May 30, 2019.

During his tenure, Reddy’s administration has been noted for implementing several welfare schemes. Key initiatives include:

One of the significant controversies during his administration involved the decision to scrap the former TDP government’s plan for a new capital at Amaravati. Instead, Reddy proposed dividing the state’s capital functions among three cities: Kurnool for the judicial capital, Amaravati for the legislative capital, and Visakhapatnam for the administrative capital. This proposal led to widespread protests from farmers in Amaravati, who had invested heavily in the development of the proposed capital. In March 2022, the Andhra Pradesh High Court ruled that the state government must continue developing Amaravati and found that the government lacked the authority to alter the capital’s location through legislation.

As of April 2023, Jagan Mohan Reddy was reported by the Association for Democratic Reforms to be the richest Chief Minister in India, with total assets valued at 510 crore INR.

2024–present:

On June 4, 2024, Jagan Mohan Reddy resigned as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh following the loss of his party, the YSR Congress Party, in the state elections.

Subsequently, on July 12, 2024, Jagan Mohan Reddy, along with two senior IPS officers and two retired officials, was booked in an attempt to murder case. This legal action was based on a complaint filed by TDP Undi MLA K. Raghuram Krishna Raju. The case further complicated the political and legal landscape in Andhra Pradesh following the electoral defeat.

Conspiracy on embezzlement charges:

During his imprisonment, Jagan Mohan Reddy and his family claimed that the investigations against him were part of a political conspiracy. In addition to these allegations, Reddy went on a hunger strike to protest the United Progressive Alliance’s (UPA) decision to endorse the creation of a separate Telangana state. His hunger strike lasted for 125 hours, leading to significant health issues, including a drop in his sugar levels and blood pressure. He was subsequently moved to Osmania General Hospital for medical treatment.

In solidarity, his mother, Y. S. Vijayamma, also undertook a hunger strike to oppose the formation of Telangana. Following his release, Jagan Mohan Reddy organized a 72-hour bandh to further protest the decision. Both Reddy and Vijayamma resigned from their legislative positions in protest against the decision to create Telangana.

In the 2014 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) won 67 seats, and he became the Leader of the Opposition.

In the 2019 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, Reddy led YSRCP to a significant victory, winning 151 out of 175 assembly seats. This victory marked a dramatic shift in the political landscape of the state.

However, in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly elections, the YSR Congress Party faced a severe decline. The party’s representation fell dramatically from 151 seats in 2019 to just 11 seats, reflecting a significant setback for Reddy and his party.