The TDP, JSP, and BJP are considering forming an alliance to challenge the ruling YSRCP in the 2024 elections. However, achieving victory might not be as straightforward as they hope. Nevertheless, these political parties are not letting obstacles deter them from pursuing the seemingly impossible goal.
Seemingly adopting the “if you can’t beat them, join them” approach, the Bharatiya Janata Party, Telugu Desam Party led by Chandrababu Naidu, and Jana Sena Party led by actor Pawan Kalyan are planning to take on Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and his Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) in the upcoming assembly and parliamentary polls.
Chief Minister Reddy remains confident that his party, which secured a remarkable victory with 151 out of 175 assembly seats and 22 out of 25 Lok Sabha seats in 2019, can perform even better in the forthcoming elections. His optimism is rooted in the implementation of various welfare schemes and populist measures introduced by his government over the past four years, benefiting almost all sections of society.
According to the state government, a total of 29 direct benefit transfer (DBT) schemes involving an expenditure of Rs 2.26 lakh crore have positively impacted nearly 81.7 million beneficiaries in the last four years. Additionally, 11 non-DBT schemes, costing Rs 2.32 lakh crore, have improved the lives of around 53.8 million individuals in the state.
Beating such a strong foundation may seem impossible, but the political parties in the opposition in Andhra Pradesh are determined to undertake this mission.
It remains to be seen whether the political parties have an edge over YSRCP in the upcoming general elections in the state.