SAMARAMEEE : Jagan VS Sonia

Andhra Pradesh has witnessed heavy rains last week, but the political scene became very hot and naturally, there was a lot of spicy stuff for the media to churn out sensational stories.

The week, however, began on a happy note: our Telugu singing sensation Sreeramchandra Mynampati bagged the prestigious Indian Idol-5 title in the Sony Entertainment Television on the Independence Day by beating his rivals with a very high margin in the popular vote; and our favourite website “greatandhra.com” bagged the prestigious Tata Docomo-Local TV Media Award under the most popular website (general) category. Kudos to Sreeram and Venkat!

Yet another positive development was the call given by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh to the Maoists to come to the negotiating table and the response from the Maoist leader Kishanji agreeing for conditional talks. However, the Andhra Pradesh government extended the ban on the Maoist party and its six frontal organizations for one more year.

Another interesting development on the non-political front was the release of disgraced former chairman of Satyam Computers B Ramalinga Raju from his 19-month long judicial custody, after the High Court granted him bail in the sensational Rs 14,000 crore accounting fraud case. His release is a classic example of how big people can get away with the scandals while lesser mortals suffer imprisonment for petty offences.

The sensation of the week on non-political front was expose of drugs racket in the Telugu film industry, which came to light with the arrest of actor Ravi Teja's brothers Raghu and Bharat, who were caught red-handed while purchasing cocaine from a Nigerian three days back. More and more names are coming out with every passing day, sending shivers down the spine of several bigwigs in the Tollywood and also in the political and bureacratic circles. Hope there would be more spice on this next week.

Coming to political front, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi tried to consolidate its gains of the recent by-elections by spreading its wings to rest of the Telangana. The day-long bandh and road blockade in Mahbubnagar district in protest against the smashing of sluice gates of Rajolibanda Diversion Scheme was aimed at hitting the Telugu Desam Party below the belt. Simultaneously, there was a mass exodus of the TDP leaders in different parts of the region into the TRS, strengthening its cadre base, much to the disgruntlement of TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu.

Now, let us come to the hottest topic of the week. As the week closes, it is pretty evident that the Congress high command has more or less closed all the doors on Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who is all set to resume his third round of Odarpu Yatra in Prakasam district. The anti-Jagan camp, surprisingly led by union minister Daggubti Purandareshwari and her MLA-husband Venkateshwara Rao, worked overtime in Delhi to widen the gap between the high command and the young MP.

Most part of the week, the Jagan drama took place in New Delhi. The high command summoned pro-Jagan MLAs to Delhi and gave them dressing down for taking part in the yatra. Sonia Gandhi’s political advisor Ahmed Patel told them in no uncertain terms that they should not take part in Jagan’s yatra, while Chief Minister K Rosaiah tried to prevail upon mines minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy to drop the yatra.

The Daggubati couple made all out efforts to run down Jagan. They made the MLAs write a letter to Jagan, questioning the propriety of taking out the Odarpu Yatra against the wishes of the high command and also his intentions behind talking out the “political yatra.” They advised him to follow the commitment and sincerity of Rahul Gandhi in strengthening the party and the country, without aspiring for any post or position in the government. They also sought to know why he was not denying the reports that he was launching a new political party.

On the other hand, the letter purported to have been written by Jagan’s uncle Y S Vivekananda Reddy to Sonia Gandhi expressing his unflinching loyalty to the Nehru-Indira Gandhi family and praising Sonia for making his brother Y S Rajasekhara Reddy chief minister twice, created fluttets in the political circles. The letter was apparently leaked by anti-Jagan camp; but the episode turned out to be storm in tea cup, as Viveka extended his support to Jagan.

The high command’s threats and warnings, however, did not have any impact on Jagan and his group. He is adamant on continuing the yatra. Though some MLAs are in two minds after the high command’s order, there are still some other MLAs who asserted that they would go with Jagan. In fact, Balineni said he was ready to forego the cabinet berth for Jagan.

As if giving the episode a climatic touch, Jagan’s loyalist Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, former TTD chairman, started his fast unto death at Tirupati and it is turning out to be yet another show of strength by Jagan supporters!

Jagan denied Sonia’s Suggestion

Going by Jagan’s open letter to the people, the Congress leaders and cadres were under the impression that Sonia had suggested Jagan to assemble all the families of shock-death victims to one place in every district and extend financial assistance to them. And Jagan, too, explained in the letter that it was meant for consoling the people, not just paying them money. There was some clarity in chief minister K Rosaiah’s statement in July that Sonia wanted the Odarpu Yatra on the lines of a similar programme taken up by the Congress party in Anantapur district in 2002, when the families of suicide victims were brought together and paid financial assistance, but nobody understood it properly.

However, it was only on Thursday that there was more clarity in the form of letter from union minister Purandareshwari, who had a meeting with Sonia Gandhi. Quoting the party president, Purandareshwari said Sonia was not against Odarpu Yatra and unveiling of YSR statues, but she wanted the programme to be organized on behalf of the Congress party and not by an individual. “She suggested that the party should organize meetings in every district, unveil YSR’s statue in the district headquarters and extend financial assistance to the bereaved families. But her suggestion was distorted and she is very upset about it,” Purandareshwari said.

So, it is now clear that Jagan did not completely disclose what Sonia told him. Apparently, he did not want it to be the party show, but his individual show. If the programme is organized by the party, there is nothing for him to do and he cannot get any mileage out of it. Hence, he defied the high command.

Prakasam MLA clarifies that Sonia Is Against Yatra

Sonia expressed openly that she aganist yatra. The high command has given clear instructions to the party MLAs from Prakasam district not to attend the Odarpu Yatra of Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

The Congress MLA Gottipati Ravi Kumar openly declared to the media in Hyderabad. He said Ahmed Patel told the MLAs categorically that no Congress leader should participate in Jagan’s yatra. He, however, said he would take a decision after discussing with his supporters and people in his constituency on whether he should abide by the high command or defy it to participate in the yatra.

Ravi Kumar said the MLAs tried to prevail upon Jagan to listen to the high command, but the latter did not appear to be relenting. “He is firm on continuing the yatra. But the high command has taken a serious view of it. He is prepared for a showdown with the high command,” the MLA said.

Efforts to find YSR's successor climax

Political activity aimed at finding a successor to late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy reached a climax Thursday with Congress legislators rushing here anticipating a meeting to elect a new leader.

With the seven-day mourning period ending Wednesday, hectic efforts are on in both New Delhi and Hyderabad to pick a new chief minister.

The legislators started arriving here on the direction of ministers in charge of their respective districts who are confident that the Congress will name YSR’s 37-year-old son and Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy the post of next chief minister.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting is likely to be held in a few days to elect the new leader. YSR loyalists claim to have the support of 152 out of 154 assembly members to make Jagan the chief minister.

Party sources said the CLP meeting would elect Jagan as the leader in the presence of party’s central observers, who would then convey the choice to party president Sonia Gandhi for a formal announcement.

The sources have not ruled out the possibility of the CLP authorising Sonia Gandhi to take a decision after getting a firm assurance that Jagan would be named the leader.

This way, no one would feel that the central leadership had to bow to pressure from YSR loyalists.

YSR’s long-time advisor and friend K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, who is lobbying for Jagan, is camping in New Delhi for the third straight day Thursday. He has met Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Ramachandra Rao, a Rajya Sabha member, has met Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh M. Veerappa Moily and told them that the Congress would gain immensely by naming Jagan as chief minister.

Known as an astute strategist in political circles, Ramachandra Rao told the central leadership that Jagan, despite lack of political experience, was quite capable of facing challenges posed by the Telugu Desam Party and other opposition parties.

Sonia Gandhi held a series of meetings with party MPs from the state and other key leaders during last three days. After meeting her, some MPs openly aired their views in favour of Jagan.

YSR loyalists claim they also have the support of 40 out of 46 MPs. These include 33 members of the Lok Sabha.

The ball "CM" into Sonia's court by JAGAN

Jaganmohan Reddy, whose supporters are campaigning for making him the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, on Sunday broke his silence on the succession issue saying it should be left to the high command for a decision.

In a veiled reference to his supporters' demand, 36-year-old Jagan said party chief Sonia Gandhi respects public perception and feelings of lakhs of Congress Party workers and will take a decision in such a way that his father Rajasekhara Reddy's ideals, mission and zeal would not be compromised.

"Our high command knows and more particularly our beloved leader Sonia Gandhi respects the public perception and feelings of lakhs of Congress Party workers and she knows too well what is good for all of us and what is good for our state and people," Jagan, who arrived here today from Idupulapaya, two days after last rites for his late father, said in a four-page message to party leaders and workers.

"I request you to wait the decision of Ms Sonia Gandhi, President, AICC on the issue of leadership and also urge you to abide the decision".

Gandhi will take a decision in such a way that Rajasekhara Reddy's "ideals, mission and zeal would not be compromised in any manner", he said.

The first-time MP from Kadapa recalled "the outstanding love and affection" shown by Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia for his father.

Jagan said he was particularly grateful to Sonia Gandhi "for her immense support and help to my father at all crucial times. She stood like a rock behind my father and supported him wholeheartedly throughout his career."