Defying the party’s diktat not to take up the yatra, Jagan started his road show after praying at the grave of his father in the family home at Idupulapaya in their home district of Kadapa. YSR died in a helicopter crash last year and his first death anniver-
sary is to be observed on September 2.
Ignoring threats of disciplinary action from party senior Pranab Mukherjee, Jagan began the two-day yatra in the district, during which he will call on 13 families whose relatives died from shock of hearing of YSR’s death.
Jagan’s followers on Sunday asserted that their leader would go ahead with his yatra in Prakasam district on September 3.
The Congress leadership sees Jagan’s yatra as an attempt to mobilise support from the party and public to destabilise the Rosaiah government.While he did not directly attack Chief Minister K Rosaiah in his earlier yatras, Jagan hinted at the state of affairs in Andhra Pradesh.
“You all know what is happening in the state today,” he said while addressing a gathering in Pulivendula town. He also unveiled several statues of YSR during the yatra.
Testing the waters
Observers say that the Jagan camp is , by launching the yatra and ignoring the high command warning, testing the waters. After suspending a leading supporter of Jagan, Ambati Ram Babu, the party high command has held its horses which has encouraged the Jagan camp to go ahead to test if the party will act on its threat. According to party sources here, the Central leadership may take action against YSR’s son after September 2, the first death anniversary of YSR.
