Hyderabad, July 10:: The young Kadapa MP, Mr Y. S. Jagan Mohan
Reddy, seems to be emerging as a mass leader in the ever turbulent
State politics as is evident from the tremendous and tumultuous
response he has been receiving during his ongoing “Odarpu Yatra”
(consolation tour) in Srikakulam district.
Thanks to the maneuverings of some senior State Congress leaders,
whose existence is more known through their media statements rather
their own charisma, their game plan to checkmate the “Odarpu Yatra”
only helped the son of late YSR to suddenly become a force to reckon with in the State.
There is no denial that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy is considered as the
rightful heir to the Chief Minister’s crown after the tragic demise of his father YSR in a helicopter crash on September 2 last. As a matter of fact, the sycophancy of YSR loyalists, who owe their political career to the blessings of the late chief minister, in trying to project Jagan as CM has become a harbinger for the growing political ambitions in the Kadapa MP.
Though Jagan had to miss the bus in taking the reins of the State
administration after the Congress High Command installed a senior and experienced leader, Mr K. Rosaiah as the Chief Minister, the YSR
loyalists among the MPs, MLAs and ministers continued their Jagan as
CM chanting to bring pressure on the powers that be at Delhi to
achieve their goal.
However, the High Command after installing Mr Rosaiah as the Chief
Minister stuck to its guns and went all out to support the veteran
leader and succeeded in silencing his detractors within in the party.
The YSR loyalists had no other option but to toe the line of the party Central leaders in extending their support to the new Chief Minister though not whole-heartedly.
The Kadapa leader tried to keep his late father’s legacy by planning
the “Odarpu Yatra” ostensibly to console the families of those who had committed suicide or died due to shock after the tragic demise of YSR.
But when Jagan’s Odarpu Yatra became a success in West Godavari and
Khammam districts, it rattled a coterie of the so-called senior party leaders and spent forces treading in political wilderness.
Thus, when Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy planned his next phase of “Odarpu
Yatra” in Warangal district in May last, these forces stepped up their efforts to put a spanner in the wheel in the name of the ensuing by-elections in the Telangana region. Surprisingly, the High Command buckled under the pressure of these forces and cautioned Mr Jagan from undertaking the tour in the Telangana region where the by-elections are due.
Amidst contradictory and confused signals emerging from Delhi, the
Kadapa MP decided to go ahead with his Oadarpu Yatra in Mahbubabad of Warangal district on May 28, but had to be aborted half way after
violence broke out with the Telangana protagonists trying to prevent
the Yatra. In fact, the loud protests from the Telangana Congress
leaders over the Odarpu Yatra “defying the High Command diktat” seem
to have incensed and emboldened the separatists, especially the TRS
cadre, to take to the streets to scuttle Mr Jagan’s plans.
However, determined to continue his Yatra as promised to the bereaved families, Mr Jagan made vain efforts to secure permission from the High Command for the same. Exasperated over the non-committal attitude of the Central leaders and also continued attempts of senior state party leaders to checkmate him, Jagan began his Odarpu Yatra in Srikakulam district to coincide with the 61st birth anniversary of his late father.
There is no denial of the fact that all out efforts were made to
blockade the Jagan Juggernaught like convening the monsoon session of
the Assembly to prevent the legislators and ministers loyal to Jagan
from taking part, the unprecedented support and response from the
masses at every village in Srikakulam district during the last three
days has jolted the Congress circles at the State as Central levels.
The sea of humanity waiting patiently for hours together to see Jagan and take part in his yatra amply speaks of an emerging charismatic leader. The Kadapa cub has suddenly grown in stature to become a roaring tiger on the political horizon in the state. The massive support being received by Jagan during his Odarpu Yatra seems to be making even the Congress High Command to initiate damage control measures in the wake of its hasty action in trying to prevent the Kadapa MP’s Srikakulam yatra. Can the Congress afford to lose an emerging charismatic leader instead of roping him to strengthen the party in the state at a time when the TDP is waiting in the wings to capture power? (NSS)