New Andhra CM extends olive branch to Jaganmohan

Kiran Reddy, who is here for discussions with the High Command on the constitution of his cabinet, said it was for the party high command to decide on any disciplinary action against Jagan and not for him.

"Jaganmohan Reddy is a Congress MP. He will be treated like one like any other Congress MP. I take this opportunity to seek cooperation from all party MPs in the state," Kiran Reddy told reporters here.

The Chief Minister's remarks come on a day when senior party leader from the state and Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy criticised Jagan, saying he was violating party discipline by misusing his television channel, but added it was for the high command to decide any action against him.

The Jagan's camp reacted with surprise in Hyderabad when they wondered what was the provocation for Jaipal Reddy's attack on the Kadapa MP.

Replying to a volley of questions about Jagan and his recent activities, the Chief Minister said the Kadapa MP is the son of "our leader" the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who spent most of his life "in the Congress family".

He parried questions on whether the Congress High Command was scared of Jagan.
Y S Vivekananda Reddy, brother of the later Chief Minister Y S Rajsekhara Reddy, who is apparently keen on getting into the state cabinet claimed that Jagan will soon express regret to Sonia Gandhi over his channel's attacks.

The Disciplinary Action Committee of the party headed by Defence Minister A K Antony met yesterday and sources said Jagan was not listed on its agenda.

On his part, Jagan held consultations with his supporters in Hyderabad and a spokesman for his camp termed as unfortunate Jaipal Reddy's statement on Jagan.

"Everybody knows that the channel is owned by him (Jagan)and the channel is run for his own politics apparently. The channel is being misused to weaken the party. It is very undesirable," Jaipal Reddy said.

The minister was responding to questions about the programmes aired by Telugu channel 'Sakshi' which had last week attacked Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress party and took swipes at Rahul Gandhi yesterday.

Top party leaders meanwhile ruled out any action against Jagan in the Sakshi episode but added that the MP's actions so far should be enough for any party to take action against him.

Reddy said while Jagan's father late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S R Reddy was a "tremendously loyal Congressman", his young son, "otherwise dynamic, seems to be confused".

He said it was not correct for the young MP to allow his channel to be misused against Congress.

"Naturally the decision (about action on Jagan) has to be taken at the national level of the party," he said responding to queries on the likelihood of disciplinary action against the young MP.

Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said, "As per our information, this (the content telecast by the news channel) was not news but views and people think that when views are expressed in media then the role of management is very much clear."

Congress strategy appears to be to wear him out instead of taking any action against him. The installation of a new Chief Minister is a part of the strategy to neutralise Jagan.
Another aspect of this would be to induct Vivekananda Reddy into the state cabinet.

Vivekananda Reddy said every Congressman was hurt by the attacks which went on air on the channel but sought to suggest that Jagan may not have been aware of this.
He said the editors of the channel should be properly advised against such telecasts.

Vivekananda Reddy said Jagan cannot be held directly responsible for the content that goes on air as he is not the editor.

"I don't know what prompted the channel to telecast such a programme which had hurt the feelings of all Congressmen. It must have hurt the feelings of Jagan himself," he said.
The MLC said the "phenomenal rise" of Jagan in the party after the death of his late father YSR has led to the rise of his enemies in the party, who "have been planting" stories to the High Command.

"There have been many designs against Jagan by some party leaders, especially after the Odarpu yatra, which drew thousands of people," he said.

He said the entire family of late YSR, including Jagan, will be with the Congress forever.
Vivekananda Reddy also said the "crowd puller" Jagan will play a major role in the 2014 elections and will work for the victory of the Congress.

After the telecast by the channel, Congress high command had sought a report from the state.  After receiving the report a few days back, AICC in-charge for the state and Law Minister M Veerappa Moily termed it as a "serious issue".