Hyderabad:
Hours after he walked out of the Congress party, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's son, Jaganmohan Reddy, tells NDTV that he hasn't decided what to name his new party. The former MP from Kadapa also said that he is "not interested in destabilising this government" and has therefore asked his supporters, both MLAS and MPs, not to quit. (
Blog: Jagan on the road less travelled)
However, Jagan's mother, Vijayalaxmi, has resigned as MLA from Pulivendula Assembly seat. Jagan threw a new spoke in the wheel of Andhra Pradesh politics this morning when he faxed a five-page resignation to Sonia Gandhi. His exit had been anticipated, especially after his TV channel aired arsenic reports against the PM, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi earlier this month. But it's the directness of his tone and comments that may have left the Congress somewhat winded.
(Jagan TV targets Kiran Reddy, Rahul Gandhi)He talks in his resignation about being "hurt" and suffering in silence at his "humiliation" - but lays the blame squarely with the Congress for the divorce. He says "the last straw" was the Congress' decision to offer the post of Home Minister to his father's younger brother, Y S Vivekananda Reddy. Jagan describes this as "the conspiracy that is being hatched to vertically split the family of the great leader who brought back Congress party to power in Andhra Pradesh twice. I was shocked at the murky and disgusting politics being played at my back. Is it fair to lure my uncle YS Vivekanada Reddy to Delhi, thereby paving way for fissures in my family? I was deeply hurt over the reports in media that my uncle went to Delhi at the instance of Gulam Nabi Azad. Media reports revealed that this conspiracy was hatched to rein in Jaganmohan Reddy by provoking his family members against him. Does it not tantamount to a conspiracy against my family and myself?"
(Jagan's resignation letter to Sonia: Full Text)Kiran Kumar Reddy, the new chief minister, returned from Delhi to Hyderabad this afternoon with some serious math to figure out. He needs the support of 147 MLAs to ensure his government is in a majority. Sources close to Jagan say he has 30 MLAs on his side. If that's correct, and Jagan splits the Congress, Kiran Reddy will need the help of Chiranjeevi's Praja Rajyam Party (PRP).
The new Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy will be sworn in later this week on Wednesday. It will have to figure out how to co-opt a part of the massively-popular YSR's legacy, even as Jaganmohan goes all-out to remind voters that he alone is his father's politicial heir.
"A malicious campaign was being unleashed against me, my family and lastly against my late father and a great leader of masses Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy," said Jagan . The war cry is certain to be raised at innumerable rallies, part of his controversial Odarpu Yatra or state-wide tour that he says he will soon resume.
Reacting to news of his resignation, Law Minister Veerappa Moily said, "It is very unfortunate" and that Jagan "is misguided." MPs from Andhra Pradesh were less reserved- Hanumantha Rao, for example, said Jagan had been given "plenty of rope" and that his exit will have no impact on the party.
Privately, nobody will underestimate Jagan. K Rosaiah faced YSR Junior's wrath when he was named the chief minister after YSR's helicopter crash. His inability to reign in the relentlessly-rebellious Jagan was a large contributing factor to his exit as Chief Minister last week. Kiran Reddy has no reason to expect a less than formidable opponent.
(Jagan TV row: Jagan's actions undesirable, says Congress) "When 150 MLAs supported my candidature for the Chief Minister's post after my father's unfortunate demise, I acted as per your direction without any second thoughts? Is it a mistake? Honouring your directions, did I not support the candidature of K Rosaiah as Chief Minister... Is it the mistake I committed? As recently as a few days ago, when you wanted to replace Rosaiah with N Kirankumar Reddy, did I not cooperate for the smooth conduct of the Congress Legislature Party meeting... Is it also a mistake?" Jagan asks in his note to Sonia Gandhi.
Since his father died, Jaganmohan has been keen on projecting himself as a mass leader. He launched and conducted his odarpu yatra - a road show across the state - in defiance of Congress orders. In his resignation letter, he refers to this tour: "What is the sin I have committed... Is it Odarpu Yatra? I have repeatedly informed you that it was my personal programme and it was my duty and responsibility as the son of the departed leader."