There is a prevailing belief that the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu and the potential arrest of Nara Lokesh represent a concerning misuse of power by Chief Minister Jagan in Andhra Pradesh. Interestingly, it appears that Jagan received counsel against such actions from his trusted advisor, Prashant Kishor. According to YCP rebel MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, who has connections with an industrialist close to Prashant Kishor, their recent conversation shed light on the situation.
Prashant Kishor reportedly informed Jagan that the YCP’s popularity was on a downward trajectory, exemplified by the MLC elections where the TDP emerged as a dominant force despite investing minimal effort. In an attempt to convey the ground reality, Kishor shared a survey report with Jagan and suggested a bold move: changing at least 100 MLA candidates to experiment and attract voters. However, Jagan seemed reluctant to embrace this advice.
When Jagan revealed his intention to arrest Chandrababu and Lokesh, Prashant Kishor cautioned him against what he deemed “political suicide.” Kishor pointed out historical instances when ruling parties faced severe consequences for oppressing opposition leaders like Indira Gandhi, Mamata Banerjee, Karunanidhi, and Jayalalitha.
He emphasized that those in power often suffer heavy losses when suppressing the opposition. Despite this counsel, Jagan persisted with his plan. It is evident that Prashant Kishor, the architect of Jagan’s electoral victory in 2019, strongly opposes the arrest of Chandrababu Naidu. Given the historical context and Kishor’s advice, this move could potentially have adverse repercussions for Jagan’s political future.