Hyderabad, October 29: The Congress party is likely to utilise the services of Kadapa Lok Sabha member Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to boost the chances of the party in the GHMC elections scheduled for November 23.
As a matter of fact, the late chief minister, Dr Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy, under whose regime the election was to have been held in August and got postponed due to various reasons, considered the GHMC election as a prestigious one and even chalked out his own strategy to ensure Congress victory.
Now, the present Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, has to shoulder the burden and strive for the success of the Congress party. There is no denial of the fact that it would be a litmus test for the Chief Minister to prove his mettle as an astute leader capable of steering the party to the winning course.
According to reliable sources, the State Congress leadership is actively considering to make full use of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy to campaign for a resounding victory of the Congress and thus complete the “unfinished task” of his late father. The AICC leadership is also understood to be keen that the State Congress should unhesitatingly utilize the services of the young MP, who has already caught the attention of the people after his father’s unexpected and tragic demise.
It is pertinent to note here that the Health Minister, Mr D. Nagender, is the president of the Greater Hyderabad Congress Committee and hence would play a pivotal role in the conduct of the elections. Soon after the announcement of the election date, Mr Nagender has declared that the Congress was aiming to win more than 100 out of the 150 wards in the corporation. It is also a known fact that he was a close confidant of late YSR and in fact one of the protagonists of the “Jagan as CM” campaign.
After the Congress High Command had made it amply clear that Mr Rosaiah would continue as the Chief Minister, Mr Nagender had no other option but to fall in line. He has not only lauded the leadership of Mr Rosaiah, but also closely associated with the Chief Minister in various functions on Wednesday. Therefore, it should not come as a surprise in Mr Nagender using his close proximity with the later YSR’s family in roping in Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy for campaigning in the ensuing GHMC elections.
At a time when the Telugu Desam, BJP and even Lok Satta parties are planning to go all out to stamp their mark in the corporation elections, the entry of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy in the campaigning would undoubtedly cause irreparable dents in the Opposition vote bank. Besides, the large number of YSR loyalists comprising ministers, MPs and legislators would actively work for the Congress victory and thus catch the attention of the young chief ministerial aspirant.
Informed sources pointed out that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, who missed the bus to become the chief minister after his father’s demise, will have the needed opportunity to prove his mettle and showcase his “asset” as a capable leader to take the Congress on the victory path and thus establish his credentials as the “rightful heir to YSR”. (NSS)