c pradeep kumar
The ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), led by the party president and Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, is gearing up for the forthcoming 2024 polls by announcing its candidates well ahead of the opposition three-party alliance. The ruling party unveiled its list of candidates for all 175 Assembly constituencies and Lok Sabha seats in one comprehensive announcement a week ago.
Impressively, despite this, there has been no significant dissent from aspirants who were overlooked for tickets within the party ranks. The party leadership has been transparently communicating candidate selections since December last year, and some aspirants were made aware in advance of their non-inclusion in the 2024 elections.
The party president and high command have reshuffled or replaced approximately 50 per cent of the candidates for both Assembly and Lok Sabha positions to bolster the YSRCP’s prospects of sweeping the elections.
Surprisingly, those denied tickets were individuals known for their loyalty to the party high command and the decisions of CM Jagan Mohan Reddy.
A total of 22 Assembly and four Lok Sabha candidates were reshuffled for the 2024 polls, spanning North Zone (PCs: Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Araku, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle) with two MLAs and one MP, Central Zone (PCs: Kakinada, Amalapuram,
Rajahmundry, Narasapuram, Eluru, Machilipatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Narasaraopeta, Bapatla, Ongole) with 16 MLAs and two MPs, and Rayalaseema (PCs: Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Rajampet, Hindupur, Anantapur, Kurnool, Nandyal, Kadapa) with four MLAs and one MP.
A total of 42 Assembly and 10 Lok Sabha candidates were denied tickets for the upcoming 2024 polls, distributed across North Zone (PCs: Srikakulam, Vizianagaram, Araku, Visakhapatnam, Anakapalle) with four MLAs and one MP, Central Zone (PCs: Kakinada, Amalapuram, Rajahmundry, Narasapuram, Eluru, Machilipatnam, Vijayawada, Guntur, Narasaraopeta, Bapatla, Ongole) with 17 MLAs and six MPs, and Rayalaseema (PCs: Nellore, Tirupati, Chittoor, Rajampet, Hindupur, Anantapur, Kurnool, Nandyal, Kadapa) with 21 MLAs and three MPs.
In contrast, the opposition parties Telugu Desam and Jana Sena are grappling with challenges in managing disgruntled ticket aspirants following their alliance. The official alliance between TDP-JSP came to light during TDP chief Chandrababu’s imprisonment in the Skill scam case. Since then, both parties have awaited a BJP alliance. With the delay in a positive response from the BJP, TDP-JSP announced their first list of candidates post-seat-sharing, triggering discontent among ticket aspirants from both parties. Even before this resentment could dissipate, TDP-JSP allied with the BJP, intensifying discontent among ticket aspirants. TDP has released three lists thus far, exacerbating problems within the party, with Chandrababu engaged in efforts to placate disgruntled leaders. Similar challenges confront JSP chief Pawan Kalyan, as his initially allocated seats decreased from 24 ACs and three LS seats to 21 ACs and two LS seats post the tri-party alliance.
State Planning Board Vice Chairman and Vijayawada-Central MLA Malladi Vishnu, despite being denied a ticket for the 2024 elections, expressed commitment to the party and willingness to serve in any capacity determined by the party leadership. He noted that the party president, Jagan Mohan Reddy, had made strategic adjustments to ensure victory in all 175 Assembly and 25 Lok Sabha seats in the upcoming polls. He also assured that the party would provide suitable roles for senior leaders denied tickets.