Congress plans Odarpu, offers Rs 1 lakh

In an attempt to checkmate the Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Congress on Monday announced its own "Odarpu Yatra" and declared an aid of Rs 1 lakh to the families of those who committed suicide or died in the wake of the death of the former Chief Minister, Dr Y. S. Rajasekhar Reddy.

The announcement was made by Mr Veerappa Moily, the AICC leader in charge of Andhra Pradesh, even as Mr Jagan is all set to start the next round of his Odarpu yatra (condolence tour) from September 3 in Prakasam district in defiance of the party high command writ.

"The Congress president has directed the AICC to pay a sum of Rs 1 lakh each to the bereaved families," said Mr Moily, who showered praises on the late YSR. "The disbursement of money will be undertaken by the concerned Congress MPs and DCC presidents."

Though belated, the AICC move is seen as an attempt to stymie the rebellion by Mr Jagan. The Congress high command is expected to issue another statement on Tuesday or the day after, asking party workers to participate in the official yatra, and not Mr Jagan’s tour.

"Our statement is not to please Mr Jagan," said an AICC functionary. "It is meant to keep party cadres away from him."

The AICC is hoping that its announcement would lead to a situation in which Mr Jagan would be isolated in the party.

However, sources in Mr Jagan’s camp said the Kadapa MP was in no mood to reconsider his plans. "It is not about money," said a leader close to Mr Jagan. "It is the emotional bonding he has with those families of the victims. In fact Mr Jagan himself had sought the party’s involvement to provide aid and help to those families."

Mr Jagan is learnt to be planning to release an open letter before starting his tour, responding to the AICC move.

The Kadapa MP has already completed two spells of the yatra in several parts of the state despite the party chief, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, advising against it. He will address a rally in the temple town of Tirupati on September 2, the first death anniversary of his father.