When Will Jagan Get Rid Of Avinash Reddy?

YS Avinash Reddy delivered yet another setback to Jagan Mohan Reddy, this time in Pulivendula. The YSR Congress suffered a humiliating defeat by even losing its deposit in the YSR family’s own stronghold, which has come as a major jolt to the party.

This is not the first time Avinash has let the party down. He was accused in the murder of Jagan’s uncle, yet Jagan shielded him from arrest and even granted him a ticket again in 2024. Jagan himself campaigned for Avinash during the election.

Between 2019 and 2024, Avinash Reddy oversaw the affairs of Kadapa district and Pulivendula. In this period, Jagan distanced himself from his own sister Sharmila and mother Vijaya Lakshmi, choosing instead to back Avinash. But this loyalty only weakened YSR Congress in the region.

Kadapa has always been the political heartland of YSR Congress, with the Reddy community playing a dominant role in local politics. The area was once a Congress bastion during YSR’s tenure, but after his demise, it shifted firmly under YSR Congress control.

In the latest Assembly elections, YSR Congress managed to secure only three out of the ten seats in Kadapa. Even Jagan’s majority in his own constituency came down. While Jagan stayed mostly in Tadepalli, Avinash remained unavailable to local people and party workers, creating growing resentment in Pulivendula.

Avinash was expected to lose even the Parliament seat in Kadapa had Sharmila not split the votes. More recently, he took charge of the Pulivendula ZP campaign, but his entire strategy turned out to be flawed as local leaders refused to rally behind him.

The party had fielded the son of a deceased leader as its candidate, but instead of building on the sympathy factor, the campaign revolved around the Super Six promise, which further alienated voters. Supporters had hoped to win the seat at least by a narrow margin, but instead, YSR Congress ended up losing its deposit.

This shocking result has triggered fresh questions within the party. Leaders and cadres are now openly asking when Jagan will finally distance himself from Avinash Reddy, whose repeated failures have only hurt YSR Congress.