Vijayasai Reddy to launch new party in Andhra Pradesh after YSRCP exit
Synopsis
Once YSRCP's most powerful strategist and Jagan Mohan Reddy's closest confidant, V. Vijayasai Reddy is now set to launch a rival political outfit in Andhra Pradesh — just months after swearing off politics entirely. The reversal signals deepening fractures within the YSRCP's post-2024 landscape.
Key Takeaways
Vijayasai Reddy announced plans to launch a new political party in Andhra Pradesh on 19 August , after offering prayers at Tirumala temple .
He will reveal his full political roadmap at a press conference in Vijayawada later this month.
Reddy resigned from the YSRCP and the Rajya Sabha in January 2025 , having previously declared retirement from politics.
He served as YSRCP general secretary and parliamentary party leader , and was a key architect of the party's 2019 election victory.
The CBI had named him accused number two in the disproportionate assets case against Jagan; he spent ~100 days in jail in 2012 before bail.
He lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Nellore constituency .
Former YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP V. Vijayasai Reddy on Wednesday, 19 August announced plans to float a new political party in Andhra Pradesh, marking a dramatic reversal from his earlier declaration of retirement from active politics. The announcement came after Reddy offered prayers at the Tirumala temple in Tirupati.
The Announcement
Speaking to reporters after his visit to Tirumala, Vijayasai Reddy said he is launching the party on behalf of the people and to raise their voice. He added that he would lay out his full political roadmap at a press conference in Vijayawada later this month. Notably, Reddy had earlier stated he would not be joining any existing political party — a position his new launch technically upholds, even as it contradicts the spirit of his retirement announcement.
From YSRCP Strongman to Political Outsider
Vijayasai Reddy resigned from the YSRCP and from the Rajya Sabha in January 2025, ending a political association that stretched back to the party's founding in 2010. He had served as the party's general secretary and parliamentary party leader, and was widely regarded as one of the most influential strategists behind YSRCP's landslide victory in the 2019 Andhra Pradesh elections. At the time of his resignation, he described his decision as entirely personal and said he would remain indebted to the YSR family for four decades of support across three generations.
A Decades-Long Association With the YSR Family
A Fellow Chartered Accountant (FCA) and policy practitioner by profession, Vijayasai Reddy served as the personal auditor of the YSR family for four decades. He was appointed to the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board during the tenure of former Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR). After YSR's death in a helicopter crash in 2009, Reddy grew closer to Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and backed him when Jagan broke away from the Indian National Congress to form the YSRCP in 2010.
Legal Shadow: The CBI Disproportionate Assets Case
Vijayasai Reddy's political career has not been without legal controversy. He was named accused number two in the disproportionate assets case filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) against Jagan Mohan Reddy. The CBI alleged that Reddy was the architect behind a network of shell companies used to route funds into Jagan's firms, including Jagathi Publications. He was arrested in 2012 and spent approximately 100 days in custody before being released on bail.
2024 Setback and What Comes Next
Despite his influence within the party, Vijayasai Reddy lost the 2024 Lok Sabha election from the Nellore constituency. That defeat, combined with the YSRCP's rout in the 2024 Andhra Pradesh assembly polls, appears to have reshaped his political calculus. The full contours of his new party — its name, ideology, and alliance prospects — are expected to be revealed at the forthcoming Vijayawada press conference.
Point of View
And compared to, the very machine he helped build. The real question is whether he commands an independent voter base or is simply a strategist without a party. In a state where the Telugu Desam Party has re-entrenched and YSRCP is in disarray, the timing is high-risk — and the Vijayawada press conference will tell whether this is a genuine launch or a negotiating posture.
NationPress
20 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Vijayasai Reddy launching a new political party?
Vijayasai Reddy said he is launching the party on behalf of the people and to raise their voice. He had previously announced retirement from politics after resigning from the YSRCP and the Rajya Sabha in January 2025, making this a notable reversal.
When and where will Vijayasai Reddy reveal his party's details?
He is expected to unveil his full political roadmap at a press conference in Vijayawada later in August 2025. The announcement of the new party was made on 19 August after he offered prayers at the Tirumala temple in Tirupati.
What was Vijayasai Reddy's role in the YSRCP?
He served as general secretary and parliamentary party leader of the YSRCP, and was one of Jagan Mohan Reddy's closest aides and key strategists. He played a pivotal role in the party's 2019 Andhra Pradesh election victory and in securing NDA support for the state.
What is the CBI case involving Vijayasai Reddy?
The CBI named Vijayasai Reddy as accused number two in the disproportionate assets case filed against Jagan Mohan Reddy. He was alleged to be the architect of shell companies used to route funds into Jagan's firms. He was arrested in 2012 and spent about 100 days in jail before being released on bail.
How long was Vijayasai Reddy associated with the YSR family?
Vijayasai Reddy, a Fellow Chartered Accountant, served as the personal auditor of the YSR family for four decades across three generations. He was appointed to the TTD trust board during the tenure of former Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy and grew closer to Jagan after YSR's death in 2009.
