Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh and the current opposition party leader, has a significant strength and a major weakness that are contributing both positively and negatively to his political career.
His strength lies in his ability to connect with people and listen to them. He is known for how well he mingled with common people, living in huts and eating in their homes during his padayatra. No other leader is as effective in cultivating such a persona.
However, he also has a major weakness. Throughout his career, he has never engaged with the media. If he had developed the habit of interacting with the media and handling press conferences, it would have positively enhanced his overall image.
All prominent Telugu political leaders, including Chandrababu Naidu, KCR, KTR, Revanth Reddy, and even Lokesh, regularly face the press and engage with the media in their own style. Even Pawan Kalyan is known for his unique way of addressing the media.
But Jagan Mohan Reddy stands out as someone who avoids press meets and public media interactions. During his five-year tenure as Chief Minister, he always relied on his ministers to address the media on his behalf.
Will he learn the inevitable art of facing the media or continue to be in the same shy-mode has to be waited and seen.
Even in the recent press meet, Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy sat with folded hands and read out points from a paper, rather than projecting himself as a strong leader with extempore speech.
He addressed the press more like a review meeting with IAS officers, rather than speaking directly to the public.
His poor body language and dull tone of speech are disappointing not only his hardcore followers but also party members.
Jagan needs to make significant changes in his approach if he truly wishes to regain the political traction he has lost.