Power to YSR Congress Party, Amaravati conundrum mark 2019

Year-ender: Andhra Pradesh

AMARAVATI: The Jagan Mohan Reddy led YSR Congress Party storming to power in Andhra Pradesh with a landslide win, its sweeping moves, some of them controversial and the uncertainty over the future of state capital Amaravati dominated the events during 2019.

The crushing defeat of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) headed by N. Chandrababu Naidu in the simultaneous elections to the state Assembly and the Lok Sabha changed the political scene in the State as it completed a five-year journey after bifurcation.

Riding on a huge anti-incumbency wave, the YSRCP bagged 151 seats in the 175-member Assembly and won 22 out of the 25 Lok Sabha seats, decimating the opposition. The TDP could win just 23 Assembly and three Lok Sabha seats while actor Pawan Kalyan's Jana Sena failed to make an impact, winning just one Assembly seat. Pawan Kalyan himself faced humiliation in both the Assembly constituencies he contested from.

By defeating Naidu, a leader with 40 years in politics, Jagan Mohan Reddy fulfilled his long-cherished dream of becoming the chief minister. An eight-year-long wait ended for the young leader as many voted for him as they saw in him Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, his father and mass leader who served as the Chief Minister in undivided Andhra Pradesh.

Promising to set a trend for the entire country in providing best governance, Jagan took an unprecedented step by naming five deputy chief ministers, representing different sections of the society.

Undeterred by the state's financial woes, Jagan announced a slew of sops for the welfare of the poor and weaker sections to fulfill his poll promises.

Taking a bold step, he started imposing prohibition in phases. Beginning with the closure of over 40,000 illegal liquor outlets, the government took over the retail liquor business and cut down the number of shops and bars to discourage consumption of liquor. He promised that in the final phase, liquor will be confined to five-star hotels.

The sporadic post-poll clashes between YSRCP and TDP continued in parts of the state for 4-5 months. The main opposition accused the government of targeting TDP leaders and cadres by booking false cases against them.

The TDP received the biggest jolt when the senior leader and former Assembly speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao committed suicide at his residence in Hyderabad. The TDP blamed the Jagan government saying Rao was implicated in false cases including a case of diverting furniture meant for the Assembly to his private premises.

The YSR Congress Party government not only reversed several decisions taken by the previous government but targeted Naidu. It dismantled 'Praja Vedika' a meeting hall abutting Naidu's house in Amaravati.

This government structure was built when Naidu was the chief minister and Jagan declared that this is the beginning of the drive against illegal constructions. Naidu was also served a notice to vacate the house alleging that he was living in a house built illegally on the banks of the Krishna river. (IANS)

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