Cracks in Andhra Congress widen as Jagan steps up attack

The young MP wondered why Rosaiah was afraid of losing his chair because of his 'odarpu yatra'. After making indirect attacks on the leadership for preventing ministers and legislators from accompanying him, Jagan, as he is popularly known, launched a direct attack on the veteran leader.

Stating that he was not after the chief minister's post, Jagan wanted to know why Rosaiah was afraid of him. "Am I here for the odarpu yatra or for the chief minister's post," the young leader asked the crowd at Ranasthalam in Srikakulam district Sunday night.

"I fail to understand why the chief minister will loose his chair because of the yatra. I also fail to understand why they are politicising it," he said.

Defying the central leadership, Jagan continued his campaign for the fifth day Monday. After covering Srikakulam district, he entered East Godavari district Monday to console the families of those who died of shock following the death of his father and then chief minister in a helicopter crash in September last year.

No minister or legislator joined in in Srikakulam but at least two ministers and six legislators have announced that they would join Jagan in East Godavari district.

Jagan had already hit out at the leadership for not allowing ministers and legislators to join his yatra and pointed out that their family members had come out in his support.

With the Kadapa MP finally getting some open support from ministers and legislators, alarm bells have started ringing in the ruling party.  Ministers, legislators and party leaders loyal to Rosaiah have hit back at Jagan saying nobody was being prevented from joining his campaign. Some senior leaders have accused him of damaging the party through his yatra.

Worried over the impact the open wrangling is having on the government, some senior cabinet ministers, who were loyal to late chief minister Rajasekhara Reddy, began efforts for a truce between Jagan and Rosaiah.