New Delhi : Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, who previously supported the NDA government in Parliament, appears to be shifting his stance. He has expressed regret over his past position regarding the Election Commission specifically concerning the selection process for Election Commissioners and has now extended his support to the ‘Cockroach Janata Party’ (CJP). It is speculated that this shift may be linked to a new rapport with Left-wing parties, though no official statement has been made in this regard. Notably, Reddy’s party faced defeat in the last assembly elections and also failed to perform well in the Lok Sabha elections.

According to media reports, Reddy stated, “We regret it now… We have come to realize that it was a mistake to agree to the process where Election Commissioners are selected by a three-member committee comprising the Prime Minister, a leader nominated by the Prime Minister, and the Leader of the Opposition.” He has also called for an amendment to the law to include the Chief Justice of India in this selection committee.

A leader from the YSRCP remarked, “We have always maintained that our support for the NDA is issue-based. On this particular matter, we believe the public requires further assurances from the government.” However, the party has not explicitly stated that it is joining the NDA or aligning itself with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

In 2020, the party supported the farm laws, which were subsequently repealed. Furthermore, in 2023, party leaders attended the inauguration of the new Parliament building—an event that was boycotted by the opposition. The party had also previously backed the government on the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and the abrogation of Article 370. In 2025, Jagan’s party supported P. Radhakrishnan for the post of Vice President.

According to sources, the YSRCP is in talks with Left-wing parties. A source stated, “As an opposition party in Andhra Pradesh, we believe we should stand with those who are protecting the interests of individuals whose votes were illegally deleted. The TDP-led government in Andhra Pradesh is exploiting the State Election Commission an institution that acts at the government’s behest and in collusion with it.”

Notably, Jagan’s party has alleged that there is an attempt to kill their Lok Sabha leader, P.V. Midhun Reddy. Meanwhile, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s party has alleged that Midhun incited a mob to commit arson during the nomination process for local elections.

On Thursday, Reddy remarked, “Trust in the electoral process must be restored. The arrests of Sourav Das and Ashutosh Ranka will not provide a solution; rather, they will only worsen the situation.” He added, “Adopting a proactive stance, rather than merely reacting, always yields better results. There is a flaw in the system that needs to be addressed.”

These developments come at a time when discussions regarding a ‘third front’ of regional parties are gaining momentum. It is reported that the DMK is spearheading this initiative. Recently, DMK MP Kanimozhi met with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. There was also speculation that she might meet with Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray and Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal.

However, no information has emerged regarding any meeting with Reddy. A source familiar with the discussions noted, “In Andhra Pradesh, Jagan has always been open to alliances that support the YSRCP.” For now, a front led by the Left, or even one led by regional parties, seems like a quite viable option to stop the TDP-led alliance in the state.