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Decision a result of anger, aspiration

Last Updated 29 November 2010, 17:14 IST

Catapulted into political limelight after the sudden death of his father in a tragic helicopter crash in 2009, Yeduguri Sandinti Jaganmohan Reddy never concealed his aspiration to become the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.

He created trouble for the state unit of the Congress and even ruffled the feathers of the party high command by flaunting his popularity and openly hitting out at the leadership.
Thanks to his father’s charisma and fame in Andra Pradesh, Jagan had a smooth passage from a Karnataka-based businessman to be member of Parliament for his home district of Kadapa.

Jagan played an active role in the political affairs of his father’s Assembly and Parliamentary constituencies. Congress workers who were part of his campaign in the 2004 and 2009 elections recalled that the young leader had his eyes firmly on the chief ministerial position as he sought votes not only for the “chief minister” (his father), but also for the “future chief minister” (himself).

Chieftain

Family members say that Jagan relished his role as the chieftain. He frequently occupied the high pedestal chair at his house in Pulivendula during summer vacations and dictated instructions to district officials, police and local politicians.

On the eve of the 2009 elections, Jagan was given the “Prince of AP” title. He addressed a series of meetings in East Godavari and Kadapa districts. Local media and Jagan’s Sakshi channel described  the meetings as a success and portrayed Jagan as a “mass leader”.

District officials and even judges posted in Kadapa were  mostly handpicked by him.
Though his move to resign from the Congress is said to be the high command’s attempt to price away his “Chinna Nayina” (father’s younger brother) Y S Vivekananda  Reddy, he has been defiant of the party leadership ever since they turned down his claim to the chief ministership after his father’s death.

The MP and his supporters targeted K Rosaiah who quit as chief minister last week. Jagan scripted his own exit from the Congress just when the leadership was planning to take disciplinary action against him for using Sakshi television channel to attack Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Behind the scenes, Jagan was becoming desperate after his uncle lobbied for a ministerial birth in the newly formed Kiran Kumar reddy cabinet and family friend KVP Ramachandra Rao chose to distance himself from his affairs.

A YSR confidant and Rajya Sabha MP, Rao was moving closer to the Congress high command in recent times. Under Kiran Kumar’s instructions, he resigned from his position as adviser to the state government late on Sunday.

“Jagan controlled the government headed by his father for over five years  and it is only natural that he is angry for losing the advantage,” said a senior official in the state  intelligence.

PRP not to join Kiran govt

Putting all speculations to rest, the Praja Rajyam Party led by Chiranjeevi has decided to stay out of the Kiran Kumar Reddy cabinet, DHNS reports from Hyderabad.

Party spokesman Buragadda Vedavyas, however, told reporters late on Monday after a marathon meeting of the legislature party that the PRP will support the government only if the need arises. The PRP will be in a precarious situation on the issue of Telangana as the party has already voiced its support for an integrated Andhra state. If the Congress decides to give in on the Telangana demand, then the PRP ministers will find it difficult to continue in the government. 

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(Published 29 November 2010, 17:14 IST)

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