*YSR-Jagan padayatras laid the foundation for good governance*

Tadepalli, April 9: YSR Congress Party leaders stated that the historic padayatras undertaken by late Chief Minister Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and YSRCP President Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy marked the beginning of people-centric governance in Andhra Pradesh. 
On the occasion of completion of 23 years of Dr. YSR’s iconic “Praja Prasthanam” padayatra, party leaders celebrated the milestone at the YSRCP central office in Tadepalli by cutting a cake and paying rich tributes. Former Minister Ambati Rambabu, MLCs Lella Appi Reddy and P. Ramasubba Reddy, former MLAs Gadikota Srikanth Reddy and Malladi Vishnu, along with leaders Nedurumalli Ramkumar Reddy, Donthireddy Vema Reddy, Kakumanu Rajashekar, Chella Madhusudhan Reddy, Varshavardhan Reddy, Narayanamurthy, K. Sudhakar Reddy and others participated in the कार्यक्रम.
Speaking on the occasion, Ambati Rambabu said that the father–son padayatras are unparalleled in the country and expressed pride in being part of both journeys. He recalled that Dr. YSR began the Praja Prasthanam padayatra from Chevella during April under scorching heat to directly understand people’s issues and continued till Ichchapuram, connecting deeply with the masses despite lack of facilities. He said the yatra created a nationwide impact and paved the way for welfare governance, bringing Congress back to power in the state and influencing national politics. He added that Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy undertook an even longer padayatra, emerging as a leader surpassing his father by closely engaging with people and reflecting their aspirations in governance.
YSRCP State General Secretary Gadikota Srikanth Reddy said that Dr. YSR’s padayatra brought a historic transformation in state politics and that the state’s condition before and after 2004 must be understood to appreciate its impact. He noted that the padayatra was not merely political but a mass movement etched in people’s hearts, and that Y.S. Jagan carried forward the same spirit in governance by addressing public issues. MLC Lella Appi Reddy stated that it is rare in history for both father and son to undertake padayatras, highlighting that Dr. YSR walked about 1,475 km shaping schemes like free power, Aarogyasri and fee reimbursement, while Y.S. Jagan walked over 3,600 km earning people’s trust and forming the government, advancing welfare governance further.
Former MLA Malladi Vishnu described the beginning of YSR’s padayatra as a golden moment in Andhra Pradesh’s history, recalling how it was launched amid farmers’ distress and social challenges, ultimately transforming governance and leading to landmark initiatives like free power for farmers and Aarogyasri for healthcare. He said Y.S. Jagan continues in the footsteps of YSR and delivered governance that surpassed expectations over the past five years. MLC P. Ramasubba Reddy stated that schemes introduced by YSR such as free power, Aarogyasri and fee reimbursement continue to support the poor even today, and that irrigation projects under Jalayagnam transformed agriculture, while Y.S. Jagan further contributed through lift irrigation projects benefiting Rayalaseema.