Late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the former AP CM had made the trend of padayatra popular. In the past, NTR took up Ratha-yatra and achieved good results and later YS Rajasekhara Reddy became close to the people with padayatra. His walkathon had turned sensational causing TDP to lose the elections and catapult the Congress into power. After YSR’s untimely demise, his son Jagan toured the entire state with his Odarpu yatra.
However, it did not show a big effect. Later, Nara Chandrababu Naidu initiated a walkathon during 2014 elections and created a record of sorts. In a way, he also became the first chief minister of new Andhra Pradesh. Later, Jagan walked 3,000 km and became close to the people. He achieved a huge majority in the elections and now there is a possibility of few more political leaders holding a walkathon.
Political chaos in the state
This walkathon trend has also crept into Telangana. Currently, there are signs that the TRS party is gradually weakening. All the parties have raised concerns that the party, which won a landslide victory, is cheating people and that promises remain unfulfilled. While the BJP which is trying its best to gain a stronghold in the state and has launched a counter-attack on the TRS and the Chief Minister and trying to get closer to the people. The BJP even got a good response from the people for its aggression as its performance in GHMC elections after a victory in Dubbaka by-election are a clear indication. This also proves that the BJP is an alternative to the TRS in Telangana.
There were reports that Bandi Sanjay would be conducting a padayatra in the city before the GHMC elections. It did not happen then as expected. Party sources said that Bandi Sanjay would definitely hold a padayatra in future if not now.
Another leader getting ready for the padayatra
Senior Congress leader and Sangareddy MLA Jagga Reddy announced that he would be ready to fight the problems of the people no matter how many clashes take place. On the other hand, another leader Jayaprakash Reddy, who claims to be in the race for the president of TPCC, says he is fighting over farmer issues in Telangana. For this, it has been announced that a walkathon from Sangareddy to Adilabad will be taken up. It is said that he would visit the entire state as part of the yatra. Jagga Reddy is outraged that the farmers, believing the Chief Minister had sowed ‘Sanna Vadlu’, and when the farmers are facing problems the government was not taking any steps.
He said the government did not listen to his pleas even after several requests were made on the issue. However, he said that he would soon announce the dates and route map of the padayatra. He takes permission from the high command for every work. It has to be seen whether he would take up programs only if he gets a green signal or would continue even without their consent.