Huge reception for Jagan's yatra of rebellion in YSR heartland

Hyderabad: The Congress may not approve of his 'odarpu yatra', but thousands of people poured into the streets of Srikakulam to welcome Jaganmohan Reddy, as he arrived there on his father's birth anniversary.(In Pics: Remembering YSR) | (Jagan's yatra in pics)
 
"My father did not leave me orphaned. He left me with this huge family, the people of Andhra Pradesh,'' said Jagan.  The crowd roared back with approval.  (Watch: Thousands greet YSR junior)

On record, Jagan and the Congress have stopped short of acknowledging the tour as an open act of defiance. But the revolt has been public - and with considerable impact, at least in this part of northcoastal Andhra Pradesh, where Jagan's father, YSR, had ended his 1400-kilometre padyatra in 2003, that catapulted him to the chief minister's chair a year later. 

Jagan has described the tour as a series of condolence calls on families whose members died allegedly from the shock of hearing about YSR's death in a helicopter crash in September last year. But the Congress party has asked him twice now to call off the journey. In late May, the tour provoked violence when Jagan tried to enter the politically-volatile region of Telangana, which is upset that politicians like Jagan are not actively supporting its demand for a separate state. The riot and Jagan's arrest in Nalgonda district Mahbubnagar was followed by a quick journey to Delhi where Jagan met with Sonia Gandhi.  He was asked to stop the tour. (Read: Rosaiah asks Congressmen to skip Jagan's yatra) 

Earlier this week, the party objected again when Jagan said his road show would continue on his father's birth anniversary. Party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi warned Jagan "not to cross the Lakshman Rekha." (Read: Congress to Jagan: Don't cross 'Lakshman rekha')

The Congress' stand, as defined reportedly by Sonia Gandhi, was that she was not against the `odarpu yatra' but suggested that the families of those who committed suicide following YSR's death should be assembled at one place and offered financial help whereas Jagan said he was going to tour to console families and not to distribute money. That his mother had pointed out to Sonia Gandhi that she had not summoned them to Delhi to console the family after YSR's death, she had come down herself to Hyderabad. (Read blog by TS Sudhir: A rebel is born. YS Jagan)

So, undeterred, Jagan continued with his plans for a three-day journey to Srikakulam and other northcoastal districts.

Congress leaders can take solace from the fact that none of its MLAs or MPs from the Srikakulam district attended Jagan's meeting.  But it was their family members who made the arrangements for this leg of the tour.  Nobody wants to openly take sides, just yet, in the battle between Jagan and his party. 

But the attempt is to convey that Jagan enjoys both mass support and political loyalty. Srikakulam Cooperative society president G.Krishnamurthy declares: "Being within the Congress, we will support Jagan. If Jagan is forced to form a separate party, we will go with Jagan." 

With Jagan not making any politically controversial speeches, the Congress leadership may prefer to wait and watch instead of pushing for disciplinary action.