YSRCP - A unique party and YS Jagan - a unique leader
Its very origin was a sensation, a revolution. It was born out of the seething rage against indolent Delhi’s arrogance. It was born as a movement for self-respect.
YSR Congress Party was born on March 12, 2011 under strange circumstances. A young son of a towering leader decides to assure the weepling and wailing millions who were felt orphaned at the sudden and untimely death of the great leader. But, the ruling elite of Delhi and the insensitive regional party try to put spokes at every step. Braving them and inspite of their machinations, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy launched the party.
These seven years have been years of struggle, years of crisis after crisis. The travel has been difficult. He was up against the might of the Congress at the Centre and the TDP at the State. They both conspired to trouble and torment him. Yet, YS Jagan forged ahead and carved a niche for himself as a pro-people leader. He shone with his brilliance both inside and outside the AP Assembly.
YSRCP dawned on AP’s political firmament by registering stunning victories. YS Jagan won as Kadapa MP with over 5 lakh votes majority, the highest in the country. Party’s honorary president Vijayamma registered another stupendous victory. Then there were bypolls and the party showed it has camptures the imagination of the people. It won 18 seats. In the 2014 elections, it won 67 assembly seats and 8 MP seats and was the second biggest party in the state. It lost power by a whisker. The difference between the TDP and the YSRCP was a mere 5 lakh votes.
Another unique feature of this party is that three members of the family have taken out historic padayatras. This was unprecedented in the annals of Indian history. When YS Jagan was arrested, Sharmila has undertaken the yatra. YS Jagan himself led a massive padayatra. For over 100 days, he has been on a historic and game-changing Praja Sankalpa Yatra across the length and breadth of Andhra Pradesh. Earlier, his father catapulted the Congress to power through his historic Praja Prasthanam.
The YSRCP has been constantly endeavouring to ensure that the welfare schemes launched by YSR are continued so that the poor and the marginalized get benefited. Schemes like Fee reimbursement and Arogya Sri, introduced by late YSR, have been watered down and weakened. This has affected countless marginalized families. Taking cudgels on behalf of the uncared, YS Jagan has launched an incessant battle against the TDP misrule. He was the first to reach and provide succour when the farmers ended their lives and people were in despair over the weakening of welfare schemes.
On the 8th foundation day of the party, the countless party workers rededicate themselves to serve the people, walk the path less travelled and help bring smiles back on the faces of the poor and the marginalized.