Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy blamed the Congress for forcing him out of the party. He says that he was not allowed to carry out Odarpu Yatra by the high command. "After all it was my duty as a son to keep my word on Odarpu. If I am not in a position to honour my own word what kind of a character mine would have been. Even if it meant political oblivion, I chose to take it. I could not dump the core values being son of YSR. Hence, I am seeking the mandate now," he said.

On the by-elections, Jagan said this is a fight to mark the beginning of change to come in Andhra Pradesh. "You may attribute any reason to this but this is a fight between the self-respect of Andhra Pradesh and injustice of Delhi." he said. On the entire state machinery being deployed in Kadapa, he said it "only reflects on their cheap tactics, let me assure you, none of this is going to cut ice with the people here who worship YSR."

To a question on what is his plus-point in this election, Jagan refused to answer. Asked won't there be any confusion among people in electing either his mother or uncle in Pulivendula, he said there was no confusion. "It is painful that they have split the family. But the people are well aware of the game played by Delhi. Pulivendula voters will be choosing between YSR legacy and Sonia Gandhi. That is all. But, let me admit to you, defeat of my uncle will be more painful to me than for anyone else," he said.