Jagan resumes 'Odarpu' Yatra: Now It Congress high command to make choice to strengthen or weaken its own in APs

Independent Media

Brushing aside reservations of the party high command, the Congress MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, on Thursday resumed his controversial 'Odarpu yatra' in Srikakulam district of Andhra Pradesh

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Mr Jagan arrived at Ichapuram in the district from Hyderabad by Faluknuma Express and was received by thousands of his fans and Congress workers.

The young leader unveiled a statue of late Rajasekhar Reddy on the occasion of his father YSR's birth anniversary.

He later paid tributes to his father at the 'Vijaya Vatika', which was built to mark the culmination of the state-wide 'padayatra' undertaken by Rajasekhar Reddy ahead of 2004 assembly elections.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Jagan said he does not feel lonely as his father had given him a huge family that comprised the whole of Andhra Pradesh.

Later, he left for Loddaputti village to console the family of Pyla Chandramma who died following the death of death of his father last year.
However on Wednesday the Congress high command said that it will take action against Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, over his Odarpu Yatra only after the by-elections in Telangana region get over.
Congress sources said that the high command was taking a serious view of Jagan’s decision to resume the yatra despite a clear warning not to do so. But it does not want to precipitate issues and issue a show cause notice to him at this juncture because of the possible impact on the by-elections.

He met several Congress leaders and MLAs from the morning at his Sagar Society residence and also talked with his family friend and Rajya Sabha member, Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, before setting out.

The PCC Secretary, Mr Ambati Rambabu, a strong supporter of Jagan, made a scathing attack on the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, accusing him of creating hurdles for the tour.

“Is it not Mr Rosaiah’s responsibility to visit the families of those who died after YSR’s demise?” he asked. “How can the Chief Minister celebrate his birthday in a big way even before the completion of one year of great leader’s death? How can he ask MLAs not to join an MP’s tour?”

He alleged that the Chief Minister deliberately arranged for the Assembly session to start from Wednesday to prevent MLAs and ministers from participating in the birth anniversary celebrations of YSR on July 8.

Later, at a hurriedly arranged media conference, the ministers, Mr Gade Venkata Reddy, Mr Dharmana Prasada Rao and Mr Ponnala Laxmaiah, flayed the statement of Mr Rambabu and said the Chief Minister had nothing to do with Jagan’s yatra and it was solely an issue between the MP and the party high command.

They added that the decision to convene the Assembly session from July 7 was taken by the entire cabinet and not by the Chief Minister alone.

Congress to Jagan: Don't cross 'Lakshman rekha'

Independent Media
New Delhi:  Jaganmohan Reddy has done what few Congressmen do - he has defied party president Sonia Gandhi. Jagan, who represents Kadapa in Parliament, insists that he will resume his controversial "Odarpu Yatra" - suspended last month after criticism from his party and violent protests in Andhra Pradesh when he tried to enter the politically-sensitive region of Telangana. 

Despite Gandhi's reported reservations, Jagan has announced he will travel to Srikakulam on Thursday, the birth anniversary of his father, YSR Reddy, who was chief minister when his helicopter crashed in September, killing him and four other people. 

The yatra or tour is ostensibly aimed at visiting the homes of those who lost family members, allegedly from shock and grief, after YSR died. But it's more a show of strength, and the Congress wants to nip it in the bud. "All true committed and loyal Congressmen must necessarily observe both the party dharma and laxman rekha of propriety and party discipline," party spokesperson Abhishek Singhvi said.

"Failure to do so would perforce lead to a chain of consequences, which are best avoidable. We hope and trust that compliance will take the place of defiance," he added.

Despite the tough talking, party sources say the Congress is not keen on any real action against Jagan.  

YSR Junior, as he is often called, received much more vocal support in the weeks after his father's death, when local Congress members campaigned for him to be made the chief minister. The party, however, chose then Finance Minister, K Rosaiah. Since then, Jagan has tried hard to periodically remind the leadership in New Delhi that his camp is a potent one. The threat, if he ever posed one, has waned considerably, though - few Congressmen are rallying around him for his tour. 

"Sonia is the ultimate leader for Congress. Whoever wants to stay in the party should listen to her," says Ponnam Prabhakar, the Congress MP from Karimnagar. "What is Jagan's recognition without his father....what is his contribution?" asks P. Shanker Rao, a Congress MLA. 

"Whoever stays in Congress will be a hero. Whoever leaves the party will become a zero." Rao added.

In early June,  Jagan met Gandhi in Delhi to seek permission to resume his tour. Now, in an open letter to the people of Andhra Pradesh, Jagan says Sonia Gandhi had suggested assembling the family members  at one place and offer them financial help. But Jagan says the tour is to console families, not to distribute money.

Jagan supporters who are ministers in the Rosaiah cabinet are hoping they do not have to choose between the party and the Kadapa MP. "Still 24 hours more time is there," says Sridhar Babu, a minister. "Let us hope that the High command comes around in a positive way."
 
With Jagan refusing to bow to his party's directive, that appears to be wishful thinking.