AP politics set for eventful Oct

The political landscape of Andhra Pradesh is expected to witness several upheavals after the reported decision of Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to relocate to Visakhapatnam from Amaravati and the fallout of corruption cases filed against TDP national president N Chandrababu Naidu, who is now lodged in Rajamahendravaram Central Prison for the past three weeks.

Another significant development is the launch of fourth leg of Varahi Vijaya Yatra for five days from Avanigadda in undivided Krishna district by Jana Sena president and actor Pawan Kalyan on Sunday. The five-day yatra is being fully supported by the TDP cadres after the Political Affairs Committee of TDP which met at Nandyal on Saturday gave a call to the yellow brigade to extend wholehearted support to the yatra, aimed at drumming up public support against the YSRCP government led by Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. After a mulaqat with Naidu, Pawan Kalyan, flanked by Hindupur MLA and actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, son of late NT Rama Rao (NTR), the legendary actor and the founder of TDP, and Lokesh announced they will fight the next elections in 2024 in alliance with the TDP. Pawan Kalyan hoped that the BJP will also join them in their fight to dislodge YSRCP from power. Jana Sena at present is a member of NDA coalition.

Due to notices served in connection with the cases booked by CID with regard to Amaravati Inner Ring Road and AP Fiber Grid scams, there are reports Lokesh may also be arrested anytime. In the skill development scam, the AP High Court granted him anticipatory bail till October 4. A legal battle to quash the case booked against Naidu in the Rs 371-crore skill development scam. Anticipatory bail has also been sought in other cases. Meanwhile, as part of a contingency plan, TDP senior leaders are trying to deploy both Nara Bhuvaneswari, wife of Naidu and N Brahmani, wife of Lokesh and daughter of Balakrishna, in a whirlwind tour of the State to, what they feel, ‘expose politically-motivated’ cases booked against the TDP top leaders. “They will establish an emotional chord with the general public as people have a lot of love and affection towards the NTR family. Being daughter and grand-daughter of NTR, they will be effective in mobilising public opinion at a time when the YSRCP government is trying to resort to political vendetta against Opposition parties,” a senior leader of TDP told Bizz Buzz.

Another important development during October is the relocation of the CM’s office to Visakhapatnam. Reports said the AP Tourism Development Corporation’s resorts, redeveloped at a cost of Rs 200 crore after demolishing the old cottages, will become the new address of the Chief Minister from Dasara. There is buzz that the Chief Minister will inaugurate one of the blocks on October 23 and relocate to the sea-facing resorts, close to IT Special Economic Zone and Adani Data Park on the Visakhapatnam-Bheemili beach road, on Dasami day on October 24.

The YSRCP immediately after forming the government sprang surprise with its plan for trifurcation of capital by announcing its resolve to ensure decentralised development. However, the farmers of Amaravati, from whom 35,000 acres of land was acquired under Land Pooling Scheme (LPS) during the TDP regime. Stating that development of a greenfield capital at Amaravati will entail a huge burden, the YSRCP Government wanted to develop Amaravati as legislative capital, Visakhapatnam as executive capital and Kurnool as judicial capital.