Jagan put to rest speculation over the Party's existence in Telangana, and said that in the coming 4 years, the YSRCP would be the main challenger.
Reaffirming that the YSR Congress Party would have a strong presence and be a force to reckon with in Telangana in the coming 4 years, Y S Jaganmohan Reddy said that his sister Sharmila would continue the unfinished Odarpu Yatra in the name of "Paramarsa" in the new State, and that the Party would be with the people in both the States.
In a speech at the Telangana State level meeting of the Party in Hyderabad on Wednesday, Jagan put to rest the speculation over the Party's existence in Telangana, and resolutely said that in the coming 4 years, anti-incumbency would build up against the TRS government, and the YSRCP would be the main challenger.
His unfulfilled desire of completing the Odarpu Yatra in Telangana would be taken up by Sharmila, and it would be called Paramarsa (courtesy call) now since it was 5 years since YSR died.
He appointed Khammam MP P Srinivas Reddy as the Working President of the Party in Telangana, and said that Sharmila would work with him to strengthen the Party.
Taking a dig at Congress President Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said, "When these people who do not know the language and the local dynamics are vying to gain political space in Telangana, how can the YSR Congress shy away from its responsibility? We will all work together, and the Party will be strengthened by the Working President and Sharmila touring the State."
Telangana benefited the most by YSR's welfare schemes, and there were more deaths after his death in this region, which clearly showed that YSR had a good following in Telangana, Sharmila said.
"We will carry forward the legacy of YSR, we will be with the people, we will fight for their causes, and with the cooperation of the masses we will emerge as a force in the State," she added.
The meeting coincided with the birth anniversary of Komaram Bheem, the tribal leader who fought against the rulers of his time in Telangana.
Continuing his speech, Jagan said, "Visualizing the situation 4 years from now, it will be the YSRCP flag that will be fluttering all the way in both the States. It may take some time for the anti-incumbency factor to sink in in Telangana, while in Andhra Pradesh the mood of dissent has already set in with Chandrababu Naidu facing flak for his style of governance and his incessant lies.
"Poaching is the common factor in both the States, and the leaders who are leaving our Party should think of what will happen to them 4 years down the lane when the greener pasture turns stagnant. It is the people's power that will bring a Party to power and not the turncoats, whatever tag they carry with them.
"4 years ago, our Party had one MLA and one MP. Now the strength has swelled, and it will grow further as we have credibility and have shown that we honour our commitments.
"To know the people and their problems, one has to spend time with them. I learned a lot during my Odarpu Yatra, seeing the people's suffering from close quarters. I hope Srinivas Reddy and Sharmila too will interact with people of Telangana and know their way of life and shortcomings." (INN)