MLAs to defy orders, intend to join Jagan

Independent Media

Hyderabad July 13 : Some Congress MLAs from Srikakulam and a major group from East Godavari have decided to participate in Kadapa MP Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s ongoing Odarpu yatra.

The Srikakulam MLAs have already instructed their followers to participate in the yatra. Enthused by the response from the people, Mr Jagan has extended his yatra in the district by a day

Mr Jagan began taking on the State Congress leaders during the second day of his yatra. With crowds continuing to throng his roadshows, Mr Jagan said the state politics had touched its lowest level after the death of his father nine months ago.

The day also witnessed the presence of important leaders like the former minister, Mr Konathala Ramakrishna, a close of friend of Mr Jagan, at the yatra. The Srikakulam MP, Ms Killi Kriparani, and the minister, Mr Dharamana Prasada Rao’s son invited him for tea.

The Srikakulam legislators are now in Hyderabad for the Assembly session and have decided to join the yatra from Saturday. The two-day holiday for the session has given them a reason to visit their constituencies where Mr Jagan is touring.

On Friday in the Assembly lobby, the Srikakulam MLAs discussed their participation in the yatra. Their contention was that if they don’t go, their rivals within the party would take advantage of their absence. The government whip, Mr Kondru Murali, is reported to have met the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, and sought his permission to participate in the yatra.

When the Chief Minister reminded him that the yatra did not have sanction from the leadership, Mr Murali reportedly told him that it would not be possible for him to remain in the capital when other groups in the constituency were joining in the yatra. He told the CM that he would have to go.

In the evening, Congress legislators from East Godavari discussed their participation in the yatra from July 11 to 20. The minister, Mr Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, who was a close follower of late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, apparently told them that even at the cost of losing his job he would attend the tour in East Godavari district.

When the panchayati raj minister, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, met Mr Bose and conveyed the feelings of the high command and the Chief Minister, the latter told him he cannot avoid going on the tour.

Some MLAs said Mr Jagan should have praised the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, during the yatra so that party leaders participating in the tour would not face a problem.