In an exclusive interview with India Today TV, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy asserted that the national parties, namely the BJP and Congress, are of minimal significance in the state's political landscape, emphasizing instead the prominence of the Chandrababu Naidu-led Telugu Desam Party (TDP) as its primary contender in the forthcoming Assembly elections.
Reddy, who leads the YSRCP, remarked that both the BJP and Congress lack a substantial presence in Andhra Pradesh. He stated that the electoral contest would primarily unfold between his party and the collective opposition formed by the Telugu Desam Party and the Jana Sena, supplemented by other allied individuals and factions.
The recent alliance between Pawan Kalyan and Chandrababu Naidu has bolstered the TDP's prospects ahead of the Assembly polls, particularly amidst ongoing investigations into multiple corruption allegations against the former Chief Minister.
Expressing his strongest condemnation for the Congress, Reddy accused the party of orchestrating the state's division for its own political interests. Regarding the appointment of his sister, YS Sharmila, by the Congress, Reddy criticized the party for perpetuating a policy of "divide and rule."
Reddy highlighted his confidence in the YSRCP's re-election prospects, underscoring the widespread impact of his government's initiatives that have benefited millions of people across the state.
"I have ensured that I've touched so many crores of people, and that's what gives me the satisfaction that even if I were to step down today, I have absolutely no regrets," he affirmed.
In the context of Andhra Pradesh's distinctive 'padyatra politics', Reddy recalled the overwhelming support garnered by the YSRCP in the 2019 elections following his extensive 3,648 km foot march, which propelled his party to a sweeping victory, securing 151 out of the 175 seats, while significantly diminishing the Telugu Desam Party's representation to a mere 23 seats.
