Araku MP Kothapalli Geetha launched a new political party, the Jana Jagruti Party, in Vijayawada on Friday with the aim of challenging the state’s caste politics.
She also unveiled the party’s flag and logo.
The party flag is blue and white in colour, and has an umbrella in the middle, and is indicative of the aspirations for alternative politics. During the launch, Geetha said that education, women empowerment, health facilities and social justice are some of the areas her party would focus on.
Despite reports claiming that she switched over to the Telugu Desam Party, Geetha has earlier hinted at setting up her own political party. While launching the party on Friday, she claimed that her party was born from the pain of the people.
Geetha hails from Addateegala of East Godavari, and belongs to the Valmiki tribe. She is reportedly the first woman graduate from the tribal belt. She holds Masters Degrees in Public Administration and Sociology from Andhra University.
A former Deputy Collector, she resigned from all services in 2010. In 2014, Geetha contested and won from Araku on a YSR Congress Party ticket.
She later distanced herself from the party.
In her speech, Geetha lashed out at both the TDP and the YSRCP for 'misguiding' the people for personal and political gains.
"While there are 90% of the people are BCs, SCs and STs, why should the state’s politics revolve around two castes and two families, as if there are no leaders at all among Kapus, SCs, STs, Yadavas and Matsyakaras (fishermen),” she asked.
Taking a dig at Chandrababu Naidu's plan to construct a world-class capital, she said that there is no vision to address the concerns of the vulnerable people in the state.
"Following the state’s bifurcation, people of the state elected Chandrababu Naidu believing that he is a visionary. Who got jobs except for Lokesh Babu? The state is steeped in liabilities, corruption and unemployment," she said.
Lashing out at YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, she said, “YS Jagan Mohan never attends Assembly sessions, even if it is equal to going to a temple. He only has a thirst for power”.
Stating the main agendas of her party, Geetha said that she will give seats to women leaders and political opportunities to those belonging to weaker sections of society. She also said that there will be a social audit of assets of MLAs every six months if her party comes to power. She added that her party will contest from all 175 constituencies in the state.