Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy sparked controversy during a recent media interaction by defending the “Rappa Rappa” posters displayed at his Sattenapalli public meeting. The posters depicted Jagan in a violent avatar alongside the famous dialogue from the film Pushpa 2, suggesting a ruthless political comeback if he returns to power. Instead of distancing himself from the aggressive imagery, Jagan embraced the message,

The recent public meeting organized by YS Jagan in Sattenapalli turned tragic, resulting in the deaths of two individuals and sparking criticism from Andhra Pradesh’s Home Minister Taneti Vanitha. Despite clear advisories from the Andhra Pradesh Police Department advising against the event due to security concerns, the YCP-led tour proceeded as a “console tour” to meet the family of a deceased supporter.

Voting for by-elections to five assembly seats across Punjab, West Bengal, Gujarat, and Kerala began on June 19, setting the stage for high-stakes political showdowns. Though the number of seats is limited, the contests are expected to reflect broader voter sentiment and alliance cohesion ahead of several key state elections in 2026. In Punjab, the Ludhiana West seat vacated after the death of AAP ML