Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy

On 29 November 2010, he resigned, after a fallout with the Congress party high command.[12] He announced on 7 December 2010 from Pulivendula that he would be starting a new party within 45 days. In March 2011, he announced his party name at Jagganapeta of East Godavari district.[13] Later, his party went to by polls in YSR Kadapa district and won almost all the seats with a huge majority.[14] Reddy, as the president of YSR Congress, faced by-election from the Kadapa constituency and won by a large margin of 545,043 votes.[15]

The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has disclosed that Reddy, accepted Rs 1,172 crore from various investors as a bribe and in turn, helped them get favours from the state government. The favours are mainly land, mining leases, and licences for new industries. Reddy, Member of Parliament from Kadapa and late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's son, was arrested by the investigating agency on 27 May in connection with a disproportionate assets case. A CBI special court in Hyderabad on 28 May remanded him to judicial custody for 14 days. He remained in the Chanchalguda Central Prison till 11 June.

Reddy was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation on embezzlement charges and his Judicial custody was extended repeatedly as the investigation proceeded.[16][17][18] The Supreme Court dismissed his petition on 4 July 2012,[19][20] 9 August 2012, and on 13 May 2013.[21][22]

As a sequel to allegations that CBI had selectively released information to the press to tarnish the image of Reddy, the Central Vigilance Commissioner sought a report on the matter from the investigating agency.[23] The YSR Congress and Reddy's family have been alleging a political conspiracy behind Reddy's investigations.[24][25] BJP has noted that CBI has been pursuing this case with greater vigour than that of government-aligned politicians with similar charges such as Sushil Kumar Shinde or Vilasrao Deshmukh.[26]

While in jail, Reddy started a hunger strike opposing the United Progressive Alliance's decision to endorse the creation of a separate Telangana state. After 125 hours of indefinite hunger strike, his sugar levels and blood pressure were down. He was moved to Osmania General Hospital for treatment.[27] His mother, MLA Vijayamma, was also on hunger strike protesting the formation of Telangana out of AP.[28] After his release, Reddy called for a 72-hour bandh protesting the formation of Telangana.[29] Both Reddy and his mother resigned from their legislatures opposing the decision favoring the formation of Telangana.[30]

In 2014, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), was a pre-poll favourite among most analysts and psephologists.[31] But, the YSRCP lost the 2014 elections, winning only 67 of 175 seats in the state assembly, with 45% of vote share.[32] In the 2014 election, the Telugu Desam Party vote share went up to 47% and the 2% gap led to the defeat of YSRCP.[31]

As a leader of the Opposition in Assembly and YSR Congress Party president, Reddy launched his 3,000-km-long walkathon named Praja Sankalpa Yatra on 6 November 2017.[33][34] The YSRC chief launched his ‘Praja Sankalpa Padayatra’ at RK Valley in his native Kadapa district after paying homage at the grave of his father. YSR Congress party coined a slogan "Raavali Jagan, Kaavali Jagan" (transl. Jagan should come. We want Jagan) for the foot march that took him across 125 Assembly segments all over the states in 430 days. This Yatra was started on 6 November 2017 and ended on 9 January 2019. Reddy while boarding a flight to Hyderabad was attacked with a cock fighting knife in the VIP Lounge of Visakhapatnam Airport on 25 October 2018.[35][36] He received an injury on shoulder and had to undergo a surgery.[36]

In the 2019 National and State election held in April–May 2019, YSR Congress Party swept the polls and won 151 of the total 175 assembly seats and 22 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats in AP. He took oath as Chief Minister on 30 May 2019.[37] His chief ministership has been marked by a slew of welfare schemes such as Amma Vodi: which provides money for mothers to educate children.[38] He also scrapped the plans for a new capital at Amaravati, proposed by the TDP, instead proposing 3 different capitals for the judicial, administrative and legislative branches respectively: Kurnool, Amaravati and Visakhapatnam.[39]