Just when the Congress had heaved a sigh of relief at averting the possible rebellion of the Kadapa MP, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, it finds itself in a dilemma over what strategy to adopt on Telangana in the forthcoming by-elections in the region.
The Karimnagar MP, Mr Ponnam Prabhakar, and the Zahirabad MP, Mr Suresh Shetkar, called on the law minister and in-charge of AP affairs, Mr Veerappa Moily, and demanded that the party should not go against popular sentiment in Telangana.
They want the party to clearly state during the poll campaign that the Congress is in favour of a separate Telangana state.
This view is firmly opposed by Congress politicians whose constituencies are in the other two regions. It is pertinent to note that the government whip in the Andhra Pradesh Assembly, Dr S. Sailajanath, called on Mr Moily and urged him to ensure that the party uses the slogan of development and other welfare schemes during the election campaign and does not commit to anything on Telangana.
Mr Prabhakar wants the party to expose the Telugu Desam and the BJP for not conceding to the demand for a separate state when they were in power, even though they were instrumental in the creation of Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand.
The MPs want the party to highlight its contribution to Telangana: the announcement by the Union home minister on December 9 and also the appointment of the Srikrishna committee.
Showing posts with label Jagan Mohan Reddy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jagan Mohan Reddy. Show all posts
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Friday, May 28, 2010
Jagan defies diktat, firm on yatra
Defying the diktat of the Congress high command, the Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has decided to go ahead with his tour of Warangal district to console the families of those who died after the demise of his father, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.
Though negotiations between Mr Reddy and the party leaders were continuing even late at night, it is learnt that he is adamant about undertaking the tour at the time of going to press. He will take the InterCity Express to Mahbubabad, about 200 km from here, at 7.45 am on Friday, if he does not change his mind. There is a likelihood that he may be arrested.
On Thursday morning, the Congress leader and Union minister, Mr Veerappa Moily, talked to Mr Reddy and asked him to postpone the tour. He told the Kadapa MP that he was talking on behalf of the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.
Mr Moily seems to have told Mr Jagan that the high command was aware of the sentiments attached to the yatra, but cautioned that it would be better to postpone it because of the strong opposition it had triggered from pro-Telangana sections. However, Mr Jagan reportedly told Mr Moily that he could not postpone the tour as it had been announced.
Later, Mr Moily met Mr Jagan's mentor, Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, who was in Delhi, and asked him to convince the MP to postpone the tour. Mr Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president, also spoke to Dr Rao and Mr Reddy.
Dr Rao arrived from Delhi on Thursday evening and tried to persuade Mr Reddy from undertaking the tour. But he did not succeed.
As of now, things are headed for a political showdown between Mr Reddy and the state government. Sources said that the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, was insistent on implementing the high command diktat and had instructed police officers to take necessary steps.
This means Mr Reddy might be taken into custody by police on the contention he had no permission to conduct a tour and the law and order situation in Warangal was not conducive.Sources said intelligence wing had informed the state government about the movement of some Maoist dalams in the district and about plans by some Telangana groups to stall the tour.
After talking to Mr Jagan, Mr Moily and Mr Patel also informed the high command decision to Mr Rosaiah and the PCC chief, Mr Srinivas, and urged them to see to it that the yatra was postponed.
Following this, Mr Rosaiah also called up Mr Jagan over phone and conveyed the high command advice. But the Kadapa MP said it was not fair to ask him to postpone the tour.
“I don’t understand what sin I am committing,” he reportedly told the Chief Minister. “Do you think the Congress will benefit from postponement of my tour?”
Mr Rosaiah, who later addressed the media in connection with another issue, said that Mr Jagan had not sought permission from the police for the yatra. To a question, he said the party high command would take care of the situation.
The Chief Minister also held an informal cabinet meeting and told ministers what transpired between him and Mr Jagan and also what the high command wished for.
In a deft move, he made the ministers endorse the high command decision and deputed the home minister, Ms Sabita Indra Reddy, and the agriculture minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, to meet Mr Jagan and convince him against going on tour. They met him but he did not relent.
Later both the ministers held a high level meeting with the DGP, Mr R.R. Girish Kumar, the intelligence chief, Mr Mahender Reddy, and other police officers. They again left for Mr Reddy’s residence at 8 pm and were closeted with him.
Mr Rosaiah, who left for Ongole, told mediapersons there that the high command had not approved of Mr Jagan's tour. “In case there will be a tour, the law and order machinery will take care of things,” he said.
Though negotiations between Mr Reddy and the party leaders were continuing even late at night, it is learnt that he is adamant about undertaking the tour at the time of going to press. He will take the InterCity Express to Mahbubabad, about 200 km from here, at 7.45 am on Friday, if he does not change his mind. There is a likelihood that he may be arrested.
On Thursday morning, the Congress leader and Union minister, Mr Veerappa Moily, talked to Mr Reddy and asked him to postpone the tour. He told the Kadapa MP that he was talking on behalf of the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi.
Mr Moily seems to have told Mr Jagan that the high command was aware of the sentiments attached to the yatra, but cautioned that it would be better to postpone it because of the strong opposition it had triggered from pro-Telangana sections. However, Mr Jagan reportedly told Mr Moily that he could not postpone the tour as it had been announced.
Later, Mr Moily met Mr Jagan's mentor, Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, who was in Delhi, and asked him to convince the MP to postpone the tour. Mr Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president, also spoke to Dr Rao and Mr Reddy.
Dr Rao arrived from Delhi on Thursday evening and tried to persuade Mr Reddy from undertaking the tour. But he did not succeed.
As of now, things are headed for a political showdown between Mr Reddy and the state government. Sources said that the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, was insistent on implementing the high command diktat and had instructed police officers to take necessary steps.
This means Mr Reddy might be taken into custody by police on the contention he had no permission to conduct a tour and the law and order situation in Warangal was not conducive.Sources said intelligence wing had informed the state government about the movement of some Maoist dalams in the district and about plans by some Telangana groups to stall the tour.
After talking to Mr Jagan, Mr Moily and Mr Patel also informed the high command decision to Mr Rosaiah and the PCC chief, Mr Srinivas, and urged them to see to it that the yatra was postponed.
Following this, Mr Rosaiah also called up Mr Jagan over phone and conveyed the high command advice. But the Kadapa MP said it was not fair to ask him to postpone the tour.
“I don’t understand what sin I am committing,” he reportedly told the Chief Minister. “Do you think the Congress will benefit from postponement of my tour?”
Mr Rosaiah, who later addressed the media in connection with another issue, said that Mr Jagan had not sought permission from the police for the yatra. To a question, he said the party high command would take care of the situation.
The Chief Minister also held an informal cabinet meeting and told ministers what transpired between him and Mr Jagan and also what the high command wished for.
In a deft move, he made the ministers endorse the high command decision and deputed the home minister, Ms Sabita Indra Reddy, and the agriculture minister, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, to meet Mr Jagan and convince him against going on tour. They met him but he did not relent.
Later both the ministers held a high level meeting with the DGP, Mr R.R. Girish Kumar, the intelligence chief, Mr Mahender Reddy, and other police officers. They again left for Mr Reddy’s residence at 8 pm and were closeted with him.
Mr Rosaiah, who left for Ongole, told mediapersons there that the high command had not approved of Mr Jagan's tour. “In case there will be a tour, the law and order machinery will take care of things,” he said.
Chiru accepts Sonia invite, meet may change AP political scenario
In a major political development, the Praja Rajyam chief, Mr Chiranjeevi, has accepted an invitation from the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi, to meet her on May 29 for talks on the upcoming Rajya Sabha elections.
The former MP, Mr C. Ramachandraiah, told this correspondent on Thursday night that he had spoken to Mr Chiranjeevi who is in Mumbai and the latter had confirmed that he got an invite from Mr Veerappa Moily, AP Congress in charge and union minister, and had agreed to meet Mrs Gandhi.
It was not clear whether Mrs Gandhi will be seeking his support to enable the Congress bag four of the five seats in the Rajya Sabha elections, or whether she would allot a seat to the Praja Rajyam from its quota, keeping in view the future needs of the ruling party which has a slender majority in the House.
The development also comes in the backdrop of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy defying the party diktat and insisting on touring Warangal district to console families of those who died in the aftermath of the death of his father, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, in September last year. Telangana groups are opposed to Mr Jagan’s tour since he is a staunch supporter of United AP.
There is speculation in the Congress that in case the over-ambitious Mr Jagan rocks the boat and floats a regional outfit with his supporters, the Congress can have the support of the Praja Rajyam’s charismatic leader, Mr Chiranjeevi, and his 18 MLAs.
The Congress has a slender majority with 157 MLAs in a House of 294. With resignations from 12 MLAs (TRS 10, TD 1, BJP 1) during the pro-Telangana agitation, the effective strength of the House is 282.
In fact when the AP Congress chief, Mr D. Srinivas, tried to have a tie-up with the Praja Rajyam for the local municipal polls, the Jagan group had scuttled it.
A few days ago Mr Chiranjeevi had said his party would field its own candidate for the RS polls, and would seek support from Congress and the MIM (Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) to garner the required 43 votes. PR has been more anti-Telugu Desam from the beginning.
Speculation was rife some time ago that Mr Chiranjeevi was not averse to a merger with the Congress. Mr K. Rosaiah, had an hour-long meeting with Mr Chiranjeevi in Tirupati, soon after taking over as Chief Minister, wherein he proposed that the PR chief support his government or merge the party with the Congress. Mr Chiranjeevi apparently told him that he would consider the offer.
There has been no activity in Mr Chiranjeevi’s party except for his undertaking some tours in districts. Also, a number of former Telugu Desam leaders have left the Praja Rajyam and rejoined the parent party.
Several PR MLAs have openly suggested a merger with the Congress since they feel it would give Mr Chiranjeevi a key role in state politics.
The former MP, Mr C. Ramachandraiah, told this correspondent on Thursday night that he had spoken to Mr Chiranjeevi who is in Mumbai and the latter had confirmed that he got an invite from Mr Veerappa Moily, AP Congress in charge and union minister, and had agreed to meet Mrs Gandhi.
It was not clear whether Mrs Gandhi will be seeking his support to enable the Congress bag four of the five seats in the Rajya Sabha elections, or whether she would allot a seat to the Praja Rajyam from its quota, keeping in view the future needs of the ruling party which has a slender majority in the House.
The development also comes in the backdrop of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy defying the party diktat and insisting on touring Warangal district to console families of those who died in the aftermath of the death of his father, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, in September last year. Telangana groups are opposed to Mr Jagan’s tour since he is a staunch supporter of United AP.
There is speculation in the Congress that in case the over-ambitious Mr Jagan rocks the boat and floats a regional outfit with his supporters, the Congress can have the support of the Praja Rajyam’s charismatic leader, Mr Chiranjeevi, and his 18 MLAs.
The Congress has a slender majority with 157 MLAs in a House of 294. With resignations from 12 MLAs (TRS 10, TD 1, BJP 1) during the pro-Telangana agitation, the effective strength of the House is 282.
In fact when the AP Congress chief, Mr D. Srinivas, tried to have a tie-up with the Praja Rajyam for the local municipal polls, the Jagan group had scuttled it.
A few days ago Mr Chiranjeevi had said his party would field its own candidate for the RS polls, and would seek support from Congress and the MIM (Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen) to garner the required 43 votes. PR has been more anti-Telugu Desam from the beginning.
Speculation was rife some time ago that Mr Chiranjeevi was not averse to a merger with the Congress. Mr K. Rosaiah, had an hour-long meeting with Mr Chiranjeevi in Tirupati, soon after taking over as Chief Minister, wherein he proposed that the PR chief support his government or merge the party with the Congress. Mr Chiranjeevi apparently told him that he would consider the offer.
There has been no activity in Mr Chiranjeevi’s party except for his undertaking some tours in districts. Also, a number of former Telugu Desam leaders have left the Praja Rajyam and rejoined the parent party.
Several PR MLAs have openly suggested a merger with the Congress since they feel it would give Mr Chiranjeevi a key role in state politics.
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
Desam divided over Jagan yatra
The Kadapa MP, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s ‘Odarpu Yatra’ in memory of his father YSR has created a rift in the Telugu Desam with the senior MLA, Mr E. Dayakar Rao, opposing it and the MP, Mr N. Harikrishna, expressing disapproval of his party colleague’s stance.
While Rayalaseema-Andhra leaders support Mr Harikrishna’s stance, Telangana leaders including Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy refused to be drawn into the controversy. Dr Nagam had initially opposed Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tour.
Mr Dayakar Rao openly defied Mr Harikrishna on Monday and said that he stood by his decision to oppose Mr Jagan’s yatra to Warangal on May 28.
According to him, the tour was politically motivated and all the claims about people dying for the sake of YSR were bogus. “When scores of students had committed suicide for Telangana he (Jagan) had no concern for them,” said Mr Dayakar Rao.
The TD MLC, Ms Nanapaneni Rajkumari, came in defence of Mr Harikrishna. “Whether its Mr Jagan or Mr Chiranjeevi, everyone has right to tour any part of the state,” she said. “How can anyone oppose a visit?”
On the other hand, the TD politburo member, Dr Kodela Sivaprasad Rao, criticised Mr Harikrishna and said Mr Jagan was trying to capitalise on the so-called deaths.
As usual, the TD president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, has extended his support to both the camps.
Mr Naidu said it was not correct to oppose tour of Mr Jagan or any other leader. In the same breath, he said that Mr Dayakar Rao and other T leaders were only airing the feelings of the people.
While Rayalaseema-Andhra leaders support Mr Harikrishna’s stance, Telangana leaders including Dr Nagam Janardhan Reddy refused to be drawn into the controversy. Dr Nagam had initially opposed Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy’s tour.
Mr Dayakar Rao openly defied Mr Harikrishna on Monday and said that he stood by his decision to oppose Mr Jagan’s yatra to Warangal on May 28.
According to him, the tour was politically motivated and all the claims about people dying for the sake of YSR were bogus. “When scores of students had committed suicide for Telangana he (Jagan) had no concern for them,” said Mr Dayakar Rao.
The TD MLC, Ms Nanapaneni Rajkumari, came in defence of Mr Harikrishna. “Whether its Mr Jagan or Mr Chiranjeevi, everyone has right to tour any part of the state,” she said. “How can anyone oppose a visit?”
On the other hand, the TD politburo member, Dr Kodela Sivaprasad Rao, criticised Mr Harikrishna and said Mr Jagan was trying to capitalise on the so-called deaths.
As usual, the TD president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, has extended his support to both the camps.
Mr Naidu said it was not correct to oppose tour of Mr Jagan or any other leader. In the same breath, he said that Mr Dayakar Rao and other T leaders were only airing the feelings of the people.
