The YSR Congress Party ticket aspirants and leaders in East Godavari district are a very disturbed lot these days. The reason for their present worry is the outcome of a recent survey carried out by the YCP to get an understanding on how to improve its prospects. The survey revealed a burning anti-YCP and anti-Jagan feeling among the ‘Kapu’ community voters who have a great impact on winning chances of candidates in almost all 19 segments in the district.

When the survey organisers went deeper into the seething anger among Kapus, they found out that Jagan’s comments during his Praja Sankalpa Yatra at Samarlakota and Jaggampeta have greatly alienated the community from the YCP. Prior to that, there were a section of Kapu leaders and youth who were loyal to YCP but the situation changed dramatically after Jagan’s comments.

It may be recalled that Jagan held a sudden press conference at Samarlakota during his yatra when he passed personal comments against Pawan’s lifestyle and marital life as well. Jagan has poked fun that Pawan is a person with many wives and that he cannot comment on somebody who has not ethical values. In the second incident, Jagan commented during his yatra at Jaggampeta when he announced that he would not make any promise on the Kapu reservations because he would not like to make unrealistic promises to the community. Jagan also said that the reservations issue was in the jurisdiction of the Central government.

It is one of the findings of the survey that the response to Jagan’s yatra was good prior to his twin comments but afterwards there was perceptible change with Kapu local leaders and youth immediately dissociating themselves from the party.