YSR Congress introduced the Volunteers System in Andhra Pradesh, assigning one volunteer for every fifty households. Initially meant for welfare delivery, the system soon became political micromanagement. Over one lakh of the 2.63 lakh volunteers resigned before elections, openly supporting YSRCP.
After the government changed, volunteer services were almost stopped. Existing government staff easily managed welfare distribution, proving the system redundant. Even Jagan Mohan Reddy avoided defending volunteers, while YSRCP leaders admitted they contributed to the 2024 defeat.
YSRCP media now claims the party wants to absorb volunteers into ward and village-level structures. Analysts call it hollow, pointing out the party never paid grassroots staff properly while in power, leaving cadres neglected and demoralised.
Most volunteers have already left the ₹5,000 jobs and found better work or businesses. Analysts caution that returning to YSRCP activities could harm their futures, since the party may not need them before 2029 elections.
