Volunteers overwhelmed by YSRCP leaders are now left in the lurch. Forced to resign before the elections under threats from YSRCP MLAs, corporators, councilors, and sarpanchs, these volunteers are now abandoned. Many of those who reluctantly resigned are no longer working, with TDP MLAs and officials trying to reinstate them after their disillusionment with YSRCP. On Friday, some volunteers, mostly women, broke down in tears before Kakinada city MLA Kondababu. Similar pleas were made in Gummalakshmipuram mandal of Parvathipuram Manyam district, where volunteers requested the MPDO to resume their duties. Appeals were also handed over to MLAs in Visakhapatnam, Eluru, Prakasam, Anantapur, and Kurnool districts post-election results.
YSRCP initiated a volunteer system to deliver welfare schemes, aiming to gain electoral benefits. Through intimidation, over 1.08 lakh volunteers were forced into resigning and campaigning for the party. Now, these volunteers find themselves abandoned by the very representatives who promised continued support if they won.
Many volunteers complain that the promises made during the campaign have been broken. A former MLA from Anakapalli district evaded meeting volunteers, while another from Kakinada district blamed his election loss on the volunteers’ “lack of effort.” In NTR district, a former MLA warned volunteers against approaching him again.
