Jagan Mohan Reddy recalibrates stance, demands CEC's resignation, signals opening to INDIA Bloc

ANIYSRCP leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has changed his stance by supporting youth protests against CEC Gyanesh KumarNew Delhi: YSRCP chief and former Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy threw his weight behind the youth protesters demanding CEC Gyanesh Kumar's resignation, signalling changing political alignments in southern India.The move marked a significant departure from his earlier positioning, when YSRCP consistently supported the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre. Reddy's move has fuelled speculation of a possible rapprochement with Congress-led INDIA bloc.Reddy's change in stance comes amid increased scrutiny of the disproportionate asset cases against him, with a CBI court deciding to conduct daily hearings in the Enforcement Directorate cases alongside the ongoing CBI proceedings. With his principal rival N Chandrababu Naidu's TDP firmly entrenched in NDA, Reddy appears to be exploring alternative political equations in Delhi.Read more: Jagan plans hyper-local outreach across AndhraPeople familiar with the matter indicated that Reddy recently met the Congress brass and that the meeting was arranged by Vishnu Reddy, adviser to Tamil Nadu CM Joseph Vijay. There has also been speculation about a meeting between Reddy and Congress general secretary KC Venugopal in Bengaluru, although neither side has officially confirmed it. YSRCP, however, has maintained that these were "rumours" spread by TDP to show the party was moving closer to the Opposition camp.The political outreach has coincided with YSRCP's increasingly aggressive position against ECI. The party, which supported the CEC and Other Election Commissioners (Appointment, Conditions of Service and Term of Office) Act, 2023, has now demanded the restoration of the earlier selection mechanism involving the PM, Leader of the Opposition and Chief Justice of India.Reddy has also questioned ECI's functioning, while YSRCP has raised nine questions concerning the conduct of the 2024 Andhra Pradesh elections. These include alleged discrepancies in polling percentages, electronic voting machine battery readings, vote counts and delays in releasing electoral documents.Read more: Jagan Mohan Reddy, Chandrababu Naidu criticise Opposition after Constitution Bill defeat; warn of impact on South’s representation and women’s quotaAnother indication of the changing political equations came in September when Reddy met a CPI delegation and announced joint protests against government policies. The outreach to the Left, which is part of the INDIA bloc, assumes significance against the backdrop of YSRCP's earlier reluctance to associate with the Opposition alliance.For much of the past decade, Reddy maintained a carefully calibrated relationship with BJP, supporting key legislation in Parliament without formally joining NDA. Even after losing power in Andhra Pradesh in 2024, YSRCP largely avoided a direct confrontation with the Centre.However, with the TDP now occupying a crucial position in the NDA, that political arrangement appears increasingly difficult to sustain. While no formal negotiations for joining INDIA bloc have been announced, Reddy's moves suggest that the YSRCP leadership is keeping its national options open ahead of the 2029 assembly and parliamentary elections.(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onJagan Mohan ReddyINDIA BlocYSRCPAndhra Pradesh electionsCEC Gyanesh KumarTDPEnforcement Directorate casespolitical outreachNDA governmentCPI delegation (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel)Read More News onJagan Mohan ReddyINDIA BlocYSRCPAndhra Pradesh electionsCEC Gyanesh KumarTDPEnforcement Directorate casespolitical outreachNDA governmentCPI delegation