Though there are still more than three and a half years for the assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, YSR Congress party president and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy has begun the exercise to regain the lost hold in several assembly constituencies across the state.
According to sources, Jagan is focussing on key constituencies — especially those where the TDP–Jana Sena–BJP alliance demonstrated significant strength in the last assembly elections.
More importantly, he is finding it a tough task to rebuild the party in erstwhile East and West Godavari districts, which are crucial for any political party to win the assembly elections and come to power.
On such constituency is Pithapuram, which elected Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan in the 2024 assembly elections and that elevated him to the post of deputy chief minister.
Now, Pithapuram has emerged as a priority zone for the YSRCP.
The seat, which the party won in 2019, slipped out of its hands in the last election despite a high-decibel campaign by Jagan.
In 2024, Jagan fielded former MP Vanga Geetha as the YSRCP candidate and even held the final campaign rally of the election in Pithapuram. He promised that Geetha would be elevated to the deputy chief minister’s post if she won.
However, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan secured a decisive victory, backed strongly by local TDP leader SVSN Varma, who served as constituency in-charge.
The political dynamics changed in the constituency after the elections, as Jana Sena Party allegedly began sidelining Varma.
Despite maintaining cordial ties with Pawan Kalyan, Varma is said to be facing friction with local Jana Sena leaders.
Moreover, a promised MLC seat for Varma has not materialised, prompting him to adopt a wait-and-watch stance.
In a recent development, key leaders from East Godavari district met Jagan to brief him on the emerging political situation.
Sources said the former chief minister specifically sought an assessment of conditions in Pithapuram and discussed Vanga Geetha’s performance as in-charge.
Party insiders reportedly expressed dissatisfaction, saying Geetha has not been fully active in the constituency.
However, district leaders also conveyed to Jagan that the party does not currently have a stronger alternative candidate in Pithapuram.
Jagan is learned to have directed Kapu movement leader Mudragada Padmanabham and two former ministers from the district to stand firmly behind Geetha.
He is said to have instructed the leadership to prepare for local body elections at the earliest, and begin village-level mobilisation with a long-term plan for the 2029 Assembly polls.
According to party sources, recent internal survey reports prompted Jagan to issue specific directions regarding constituency-level restructuring.
The YSRCP chief is also preparing to launch a major agitation in East Godavari district against what he alleges are anti-people policies of the government.