Former Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy of Andhra Pradesh appears to be grappling with the aftermath of the 2024 election results, which saw his party face a significant setback. Four months post-election, Jagan remains entrenched in his belief that external factors, particularly the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), contributed to his party's defeat. He has expressed frustration with the narrative surrounding the election, suggesting that if he had been willing to "lie" like his political rival, Chandrababu Naidu, he might still be in power.

In a recent address to his party cadres, Jagan stated, “Perhaps if I lied like the way Chandrababu Naidu did, maybe I could have sat on the CM chair again, but I don’t want to do that.” This remark reflects a deeper denial regarding the internal shortcomings of his administration and an unwillingness to critically assess the reasons behind the electoral outcome.

Despite the reality that a party cannot secure a commanding majority—winning 93% of the seats in the assembly—through dishonesty alone, Jagan continues to point fingers at EVMs and Naidu's tactics. This refusal to acknowledge the failures of his leadership may leave the Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) vulnerable to further losses as the NDA consolidates its power in the state.

Political observers are concerned that Jagan's reliance on these justifications will do little to benefit him or his party in the long run. The continued focus on external blame rather than introspection could hinder the YSRCP's ability to regroup and address the issues that contributed to their electoral challenges.