YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has announced a statewide padayatra in September or October of 2027. Scheduled two years ahead of the next Assembly elections, the padayatra is expected to strengthen the party’s grassroots organisation and help it return to power in 2029.
Addressing YSRCP leaders, elected representatives and key functionaries from the Parchur Assembly constituency at the party’s central office in Vijayawada on Wednesday, September 9, Jagan called on the cadre to prepare for the upcoming local body elections. He described them as a test of the party’s organisational strength.
The proposed padayatra comes nearly a decade after Jagan’s 3,648-km Praja Sankalpa Yatra, which began in November 2017 and continued for 341 days across Andhra Pradesh. He travelled through 13 districts and 134 Assembly constituencies, meeting people and holding public meetings as he positioned himself as an alternative to Telugu Desam Party’s N Chandrababu Naidu.
The yatra became a major part of Jagan’s campaign for the 2019 Assembly elections. The YSRCP went on to win 151 of the 175 Assembly seats, paving the way for Jagan to become chief minister.
Jagan described the 2029 elections as a “Kurukshetra Sangramam” and said people had already begun examining the current TDP-led administration against the previous YSRCP government.
He also expressed apprehension over the conduct of the forthcoming local body elections under the TDP-led government. Referring to the proposed 34% reservation for Backward Classes, he claimed the move could face legal hurdles. He also raised concerns over the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and allegations of voter deletions, saying these developments had created doubts over the manner in which the local body elections would be conducted.
He alleged that the ruling establishment was using police pressure, criminal cases, arrests, inducements, and administrative measures to weaken political opponents. The TDP has rejected such allegations.
Jagan nevertheless asked party workers to contest the local body elections with determination and extend support to those seeking posts such as sarpanch, Mandal Praja Parishad Territorial Constituency (MPTC) member, and ward member.
“Whenever and however elections are held, YSRCP will stand with the people. If elections are conducted fairly, YSRCP will emerge victorious. Even if they are not, we will fight strongly,” he said.