Jagan’s 2027 Padayatra Unveiled; YSRCP Demands Nara Lokesh Quit Over DSC Teacher Recruitment Scandal

In a packed hall at Parchur, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy — the YSR Congress Party president and former chief minister — finally gave party cadres a date to mark on their calendars. He said the much‑talked‑about Padayatra will kick off sometime between September and October 2027, taking him on foot across the length and breadth of Andhra Pradesh.

The announcement, while succinct, sparked a ripple of excitement among workers who have been waiting for a concrete timeline. Jagan promised long, winding conversations with farmers, traders, students and anyone who wants to share a cup of tea and a story.

Meanwhile, the party’s internal focus has shifted to a different battlefield. YSRCP officials are now openly demanding that Education Minister Nara Lokesh resign immediately and that the Central Bureau of Investigation step in to examine the DSC 2025 teacher recruitment process.

Spokesperson Konda Rajiv Gandhi and former MP Margani Bharath, speaking at separate press briefings, argued that Lokesh’s continued presence would only cast a shadow over any impartial inquiry. They pointed to a string of irregularities: fake BC and sports‑quota certificates, participation slips being turned into job tickets, and even family members allegedly landing posts without proper merit.

According to the party’s release, the DSC (District Service Commission) exercise turned into a “job mela” where vacancies were, in effect, being sold. The claim is that many appointed teachers never cleared the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test, a clear breach of protocol.

Critics also accused the ruling coalition, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, of trying to protect Lokesh. They recalled that former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy had once welcomed a CBI probe when similar allegations were raised against Jagan himself.

Adding to the controversy, YSRCP leaders said that the government has been quick to file cases against social‑media activists, unemployed youth and journalists who dared to raise questions, but oddly silent about those allegedly benefiting from the fake documents.

All of this comes as the state prepares for a political marathon next year. Whether the Padayatra will shift the narrative, or the DSC scandal will dominate headlines, remains to be seen.