Jaganmohan Reddy launches 6-month-long foot march in Andhra

Amaravati, Nov 6 (IANS) YSR Congress Party chief Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Monday launched his six-month-long 'padyatra' or foot march in Andhra Pradesh, virtually kicking of his campaign for the 2019 assembly elections.

He will cover 3,000 km across all 13 districts of the state to interact with people and know their problems.

The Leader of Opposition began the foot march after paying tributes at the grave of his father and late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy at Idupulapaya in YSR Kadapa district.

Hundreds of party workers from across the state gathered in the town to mark the launch of 'padyatra' during which Jaganmohan Reddy will address 180 public meetings, covering 125 Assembly constituencies.

Addressing a huge public meeting to launch the foot march, the YSRCP chief launched a scathing attack on Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu for not fulfilling the promises made in 2014 elections.

Jagan, as the young leader is popularly known, hit out at Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief for "buying" 21 legislators of YSRCP and challenged him to hold by-elections for all these constituencies.

He promised that if the YSRCP comes to power, it will build houses for all government employees. He also assured that it will do away with contributory pension scheme for employees and teachers. This will provide relief to 1.80 lakh people.

Jagan said he would fight for special category status to Andhra Pradesh so that every unemployed person could get a job.

Alleging that the state has a "mafia government", he called upon people to uproot it. Stating that he is not afraid of court cases, the young leader said he had no hunger for money. "Even if I die, I want to remain in your hearts," he said amid loud cheers from the crowd.

Jagan hopes to recreate the magic of his late father YSR, who had launched a similar 'padyatra' to end nearly a decade-long rule of Chandrababu Naidu in undivided Andhra Pradesh in 2004.