Vijayasai Reddy sets 11 November for naming his new party in Vijayawada

Former Rajya Sabha member V. Vijayasai Reddy will announce the name of his new political party at 11.11 am on 11 November at an event in Vijayawada. He made the announcement in a post on X on 20 October, the day of Vijayadashami.

The post puts a firm date on a plan he has been describing at press conferences since September. The name of the party has not yet been made public.

From YSRCP veteran to a party of his own

Vijayasai Reddy was one of the founding leaders of the YSR Congress Party and served as its national general secretary. He was elected to the Rajya Sabha from Andhra Pradesh in 2016 and again in 2022. He resigned his seat with effect from 25 January 2025 and stepped away from the party at the same time.

His return to active politics comes two years after the 2024 Assembly election, in which the TDP-led alliance won 164 of the 175 seats and the YSRCP was reduced to 11.

What he has said so far

At press conferences in Vijayawada and Anantapur in September, he set out the case for a new outfit. He argued that the TDP, the YSRCP and the Jana Sena were not paying enough attention to people’s problems, and said the state needed another option.

He has repeatedly said he will not be the party’s chief ministerial candidate. He has described his own role as that of a mentor who will guide the party, and said its leader would be chosen on merit and public commitment rather than caste or religion.

He has also criticised what he calls the hold of two parties and two families over Andhra Pradesh politics, and questioned why the Chief Minister’s post has stayed with two communities.

The agenda on offer

Jobs for young people, better irrigation for farmers and free electricity have been the main planks in his speeches so far. He has also spoken of easing the financial burden on poor and middle-class families.

Reactions and what comes next

No official response from the TDP, the YSRCP or the Jana Sena to his 20 October announcement was available at the time of publishing.

The 11 November event in Vijayawada will be the party’s first formal public appearance under its own name. The test for the new outfit will be whether it can draw leaders and workers away from the three parties that now dominate the state’s politics.