Jagan pleads for CJP leader in judicial custody, attacks BJP in Andhra

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. File | Photo credit: Special arrangement

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and YSRCP Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy spoke for Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranko, two Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) leaders who were sent to five-day judicial custody for entering the now-undeclared Jantar Mantar protest site and allegedly waving the tricolor there. It is his first public comment on the nationwide protests demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

His post on X late on Wednesday (October 14, 2026) drew a sharp response from the BJP in Andhra Pradesh. BJP leader and Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav said that people were wrongly jailed for speaking against Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy when he was the Chief Minister.

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy wrote, “A proactive approach always yields better results than a reactive attitude. The system has a flaw that needs to be fixed. Confidence in the electoral process needs to be restored. The arrest of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka does not solve anything, it only worsens the situation.” He said he felt for the two.

A proactive approach always yields better results than a reactive attitude. The system has an error that needs to be fixed. Confidence in the electoral process must be restored. The arrest of Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka solves nothing; it only makes the situation worse. I feel for @SauravDassss and @AshutoshRanka.

— YS Jagan Mohan Reddy (@ysjagan) October 14, 2026

CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke thanked Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy for “speaking out against the illegal arrest of Ash and Saurav”.

Thank you @ysjagan sir for speaking out against the illegal arrest of Ash and Saurav.

— Abhijeet Dipke (@abhijeet_dipke) October 15, 2026

Vijay Mallangi, who heads the outfit in the south, called the post a “big and bold statement”. CJP says both were sent to custody for unfurling the national flag. Mr Mallangi had earlier thanked BRS leader KT Rama Rao for interceding for them.

The words may sound simple but this is a big and bold statement from @ysjagan garu. Thank you for standing in solidarity with @AshutoshRanka and @SauravDassss who were sent to 5 days judicial custody for hoisting the national flag 🇮🇳 in the national capital. Your support matters a lot. @abhijeet_dipke @Cockroachisback

— Vijay Mallangi (@VijayMallangi) October 14, 2026

Some users replying to Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s post rediscovered the February 2023 thread by Mr. Das. In it, Mr. Das wrote critically about the Enforcement Directorate (ED) case involving Bharathi Cement, in which he said Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s family holds a 49% stake.

Bharathi Cement Corporation Private Ltd – in which Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s family holds a 49% stake and his wife YS Bharathi Reddy is a director – has been facing an Enforcement Directorate case since 2016. 2/

— Saurav Das (@SauravDassss) February 14, 2023

Mr. Satya Kumar Yadav replied on the same platform. “I was wondering when you would jump in because all the other losers were already involved,” he wrote.

He asked what election process the YSRCP president had in mind. “2019 assembly elections in which you won 151 seats and Lok Sabha elections in which you won 22 seats? Remember the Central Government and the Election Commission were the same at that time. So if you win, everything is fine, but if you lose, the election process suddenly goes bad?” he wrote

I was wondering when you would jump in since all the other losers were already involved. Now to the point – what election process are you referring to? Assembly elections 2019 in which you won 151 seats and Lok Sabha elections in which you won 22 seats? Remember that the Central Government and the Election Commission were the same at that time. So, when you win, everything is fine, but when you lose, the election process suddenly becomes worse? It is also ironic that you speak out against the detention of people who have breached their bail conditions and are in contempt of justice when under your government people have been wrongfully imprisoned just for speaking out against you. Do you want me to make a list of those victims? @ysjagan

— Satya Kumar Yadav (@satyakumar_y) October 15, 2026

It was ironic, he said, that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy spoke against the detention of people who violated bail conditions and disrespected the judiciary, when under his rule people were wrongfully imprisoned just for speaking against him. “You want me to make a list of those victims?” he asked.

BJP state president PVN Madhav in his Telugu post said that CJP claimed to fight corruption but allied himself with Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy who is facing Enforcement Directorate and CBI cases. He accused the YSRCP government of religious intolerance and suppressing the opposition. “The people of Andhra Pradesh have not forgotten the challenges faced by the opposition, the suppression of political freedom, the hardships faced by the public and the rampant corruption that has characterized the YSRCP government. While peaceful protest is a democratic right, there is no place in a democracy for violence, stone pelting, assaults on police personnel, misbehaving with ex-wives or assaulting security personnel, it is highly irresponsible behavior of security personnel who are merely complying. laws to serve his own political interests,” he said.

The real agenda becomes clear when the CJP who fights corruption and protects democracy joins hands with Jagan who is facing ED and CBI cases related to corruption charges! Jagan, who destroyed temples, burnt chariots, defaced idols, defaced temple properties, instigated religious conversions and disrupted the economy of the state during his reign with religious hatred, today joined hands with the divisive forces of the country for political gain and revealed his true nature. People in the state have not forgotten the challenges, the difficulties people are facing and the allegations of corruption. Peaceful protest is a democratic right. However, violence, stone throwing, attacks on the police, inappropriate behavior towards women and attacks on security personnel have no place in a democracy. Distorting the activities of riot police for political gain is not the responsible approach of the former CM. The CJP, which claims to be fighting corruption, working with Jagan, who is facing corruption cases, clearly shows the discrepancy between their slogans and practice. The people of the state are keeping a close eye on Jagan’s political endeavors along with forces trying to create instability and destruction in the name of democracy. At the appropriate moment, he will democratically express his judgment.

— PVN Madhav (Modi Ka Parivar) (@MadhavBJP) October 15, 2026

An official X YSRCP document stated: “In a democracy, transparency must not only prevail. It must be seen to prevail!” The post tagged the Chief Electoral Officer of Andhra Pradesh and the Election Commission.

In a democracy, transparency must not only prevail. Must be seen to prevail! @CEOAndhra @ECISVEEP https://t.co/FeWnrqOPyL

— YSR Congress Party (@YSRCParty) October 15, 2026

Published – 15 Oct 2026 14:14 IST