Chances, opportunities come rarely in politics. When they come in the way, one has to jump and grab them else has to pay a heavy price. AP’s Opposition leader YS Jagan has missed one such good opportunity. The Presidential Election is in fact a good chance for Jagan Reddy to turn it into his favour. Considering that both BJP and TDP have failed to deliver their electoral promise of Special Category Status, there is a great dissent in people of AP. And Jagan Reddy who has been stating that he would continue his fight for the cause of Special Category Status for AP, missed out a great chance to highlight the issue nationally by denying his support.
Contrary to it, Jagan’s open and unconditional support to BJP-led NDA’s Presidential Candidate Ramnath Kovind has come as a shocker. In fact, Jagan announced his support to NDA choice much before it confirmed its candidate. Jagan had visited New Delhi in May and met PM Narendra Modi and even publicly stated that his party would support NDA’s presidential candidate irrespective of their choice. This is seen as a wrong move by Jagan.
What Jagan achieves by supporting NDA’s choice? By wooing BJP, Jagan gains nothing given that Naidu has been close confidante of NDA. Jagan could have remained neutral by denying his support to both NDA and UPA who singled out AP during the bifurcation. But Jagan going ahead and competing with TDP to support BJP’s choice of Presidential candidate is surprising to many including political pundits.
Also, Jagan’s support to BJP and Modi have not gone well with with a section of his party’s sympathizers. A section of community which supports Jagan is now miffed with Jagan’s attempt to get close to BJP. Considering all these equations, Jagan seems to be getting it wrong again. Well, only time will tell. Let’s wait and watch.