Vijayawada, December 24: Speaking at the concluding session of YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s 48-hour Lakshya Deeksha on Thursday, several leaders projected the former Kadapa MP as future chief minister of the state.
Nellore MP M Rajamohan Reddy alleged that the central government failed to respond properly though more than 100 farmers committed suicide in the state unable to overcome the crop loss due to floods.
He said the development schemes and welfare programmes initiated by former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy helped the Congress retain power both in the state and at the Centre for the second consecutive term.
He predicted that Jagan would emerge as a strong force in the state politics in future and the Congress high command would have to seek his support.
Former TTD chairman Bhumana Karunakar Reddy said Jagan should become chief minister of the state to better protect the interests of small and marginal farmers.
The state government should be ashamed for its failure to come to the rescue of rain-hit farmers.
He alleged that the Congress government was neglecting the implementation of welfare schemes initiated by YSR despite its assurance that it was committed to continuing them.
The Lakshya Deeksha was a stepping stone for Jagan to achieve power in the state, he said.
Former minister Konda Surekha made it clear that Jagan’s 48-hour fast was meant for highlighting ryot issues and not to get any political mileage.
She said there would be no threat to the Congress government in the state from Jagan till next Assembly elections in 2014.
Referring to TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu’s indefinite fast on ryot issues, she accused the Congress of colluding with the TDP to deny credit to Jagan’s Lakshya Deeksha.
She alleged that some Congress ministers urged Chandrababu to continue his fast till the end of Jagan’s Deeksha. TDP activists blocked the highway to prevent people from attending the concluding session of Jagan’s deeksha, she said.
No sound bytes from MLAs
VIJAYAWADA: Several Congress leaders who attended the concluding session of Jagan’s 48-hour Lakshya Deeksha, refused to speak to the media here on Thursday.
Pedana MLA Jogi Ramesh who was chased by the electronic media for his sound bites, said he won the election with the blessings of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.
Hence, he attended Jagan’s deeksha to express his support to YSR’s son.
He further said Jagan would have a bright future in the state politics.
But the Congress MLA refused to answer a question on his fight against his own party government on ryot issues. Machilipatnam MLA Perni Nani and Vijayawada Central MLA Malladi Vishnu refused to talk to the media.
Praja Rajyam Party leaders Bhuma Nagireddy and his wife Shobha Nagireddy said Lakshya Deeksha was not a show of strength by Jagan.
It was a hunger strike by the former Kadapa MP for the cause of rain-hit farmers, the couple said.
–Agencies