On the second day of his controversial yatra, Congress MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy gave indications of a confrontation with the party amid speculation that the rebellious son of former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was all set to float his own party. Resuming his 'Odarpu (condolence) yatra' in Srikakulam district, he made political comments unlike yesterday saying "Politics in Andhra Pradesh have deteriorated and touched the nadir in the last ten months since the death of my father." After unveiling a statue of YSR at Narsannapet, Jagan said "I am not isolated in politics. How can I be isolated when scores of people like you are behind me even if some political leaders are talking different things about me?
"I don't know how many people were there behind my father. I hope all of them will remain with me whichever turn the state politics may take." Beginning with Tekkali, Jagan visited Kothapeta, Palasa, Narsannapeta, Polaki and other places to console families whose kin reportedly died either of shock or committed suicide following YS Rajasekhara Reddy s death. Jagan's utterances on day two of his yatra, which may now extend to four days because of the inordinate delay in his schedule, were in total contrast to what he spoke on the first day where he confined himself to speaking about the "love and affection" being showered on him by the people. Political analysts here were quick to point out that Jagan was indeed trying to chart his own course and was apparently waiting for the Congress high command to act against him. "He began the yatra claiming it was purely personal and had nothing political about it.
But his comments on the political situation in the state had clear overtones of his game plan," a political analyst pointed out. With a two-day holiday for the state legislature, there are indications that a handful of MLAs, considered staunch loyalists of YSR, may visit Srikakulam district to take part in Jagan's yatra. Only Srikanth Reddy, MLA from Rayachoti in Kadapa district, has currently been accompanying Jagan on the tour.
Sources in the Chief Minister's Office said Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel has been in constant touch with Chief Minister K Rosaiah to take regular feedback on Jagan's yatra and the comments he has been making. On the other hand, TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu wondered where from Jagan was distributing Rs 7 crore to 700 "bereaved families", which lost their kin after YSR's death. "They are spending lakhs and lakhs of rupees to mobilize people for the yatra. So, it's no surprise that you find such crowds wherever he goes," he pointed out. Meanwhile, state Congress president D Srinivas reportedly met Jagan's mother Vijayalakshmi, who is MLA from Pulivendula, and sources said it was only a courtesy call. PTI
