Will Second-Time Padayatras Really Work?

Padayatra is the most powerful Political Tools in Telugu Politics. Late YS Rajasekhar Reddy did a Padayatra and came to Power in 2009.

Chandrababu Naidu did a Padayatra and became the first Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh after the Bifurcation. In 2019, Jagan walked for about 3600 Kilometres to become the Chief Minister and later Nara Lokesh broke that record in 2024 and TDP came to Power.

After the disastrous 2024, YSR Congress has hit the Rock Bottom and Jagan is relying on another Padayatra for redemption.

In all the recent party meetings, Jagan is repeatedly seen telling two years have passed in a flash and another one and a half year, his Padayatra will begin.

Since there is so much of euphoria around a Padayatra, Jagan is using it to fuel the confidence in the party leaders and cadres.

Maybe he is pumping confidence into himself feeling that one Padayatra will automatically bring him into Power. But then, there are doubts if that really works.

There is no doubt Padayatra worked previously but then, there is no instance that a second time Padayatra is effective.

YSR was not there to do another Padayatra. Chandrababu Naidu did not do a second Padayatra.

YSR’s Padayatra was successful because there was severe anti-incumbency over Naidu.

Bifurcation was a major catalyst in 2014 when Naidu did his Padayatra.

In 2019, ‘Okka Chance’ worked for Jagan and in 2024, Severe anti-incumbency against Jagan and Naidu’s arrest played a crucial role when Lokesh did the Padayatra.

But there is no such hook for Jagan’s Padayatra in 2028. There is no evidence in the history to say Padayatras will help the second time.