The head of the YSR Congress Party and Andhra Pradesh Prime Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy will meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday, sparking rumors that the Andhra Pradesh party could join the led National Democratic Alliance. for the Bharatiya Janata Party. Speculation has been gaining ground that such a move is in the offing.
Last week, Shiromani Akali Dal, the NDA’s longest-running ally, scrapped the alliance over his opposition to controversial farm bills. Last year, it was Shiv Sena who jumped ship on the subject of the main ministry in Maharashtra.
Jagan Reddy left for New Delhi on Monday evening and is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi at 10:30 am on Tuesday. “The prime minister is likely to invite the YSRCP to the NDA to strengthen his hands,” the party leader said.
This is the second visit by the Prime Minister of Andhra Pradesh in the last two weeks. On September 22, Jagan paid a two-day visit to Delhi and met with Union Minister Amit Shah, reportedly to have preliminary discussions on joining the YSRCP into the NDA, as well as matters related to the state. However, then he was unable to secure the appointment of Prime Minister.
VDP Associates, a data analysis firm involved in election polls, tweeted on Monday: “BJP has reportedly offered 2 cabinet and 1 (independent) minister of state to YSRCP. Jagan asked to run to Delhi for exclusive talks with Prime Minister Modi. “
However, the YSRCP leader quoted above said that Prime Minister Modi could offer a cabinet post and a minister of state to the ruling party.
With 22 MP seats, the YSRCP is the fourth largest national party. He also has six deputies in Rajya Sabha. Since the first day of coming to power in Andhra Pradesh in May 2019, Jagan has maintained friendly relations with the NDA government.
The YSRCP has supported all the decisions of the Modi government in both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha. While the NDA’s long-term ally, Akali Dal, vigorously resisted the farm laws, the YSRCP voted in favor of them. YSRCP MPs extended their support to the BJP in the election of Harivansh Narayan Singh as vice president of the Rajya Sabha last week.
The Jagan government also accepted the option given by the Modi government to apply for additional loans to offset the Center’s GST compensation payment, although more than 12 states, including Telangana, opposed the same.
Jagan also accepted the Modi government’s condition to implement reforms in the energy sector as part of the Atmanirbhar Bharat package, including attaching meters to the agricultural sector to improve its borrowing limits.
“If YSRCP joins the NDA, it will be a win-win situation for both Jagan and the BJP,” says Visakhapatnam political analyst Mallu Rajesh.
The BJP is looking for new political allies after the resignation of Shiv Sena and Akali Dal, and the YSRC can prove helpful in passing crucial bills, particularly in Rajya Sabha. On the other hand, the YSRCP needs the support of the Modi government in the Center to sustain the financial position of the state.
“At the same time, Jagan is still facing the CBI case in an alleged quid pro quo case, while his relatives are under the CBI scanner in connection with the murder of his uncle YS Vivekananda Reddy. Jagan is also interested in a CBI investigation being ordered into the alleged land scam in Amaravati involving his bete noire N Chandrababu Naidu. So joining the NDA will make things easier for him, ”Rajesh said.
In an interview with HT last month, Jagan made it clear that his party would put the interests of the state above all else.
“Our support will be problem-based and involve the betterment of our state in all aspects,” he said.
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