Kadapa, December 02: The late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s son and Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy has once again made his intentions crystal clear. ‘‘I will play a bigger role in State politics. My uncles will take care of our constituency (Pulivendula),’’ Jagan said, addressing a meeting organised in connection with the filing of nomination by his mother, Vijayalakshmi, for the Pulivendula bypoll.
He did not say in as many words but dropped enough hints that the family had no other option but to follow the directions of the Congress high command in regard to the byelection. ‘‘Mother agreed to contest only to obey the wishes of Congress president Sonia Gandhi. I am confident Sonia Gandhi will do justice to us,’’ the young MP said.
Thanking the people of Pulivendula for electing his father whenever he contested from there, he urged them to repose the same confidence in his mother.
Vijayalakshmi’s election, however, is just a formality as all the major parties have decided against fielding a candidate in the bypoll. Former minister Konda Surekha, who quit the Cabinet saying she cannot work under Rosaiah, expressed concern over the current situation in the party in the wake of YSR’s death and urged Jagan to play a more proactive role.
Scores of ministers went to Pulivendula, apparently on the advice of Rosaiah, and were present when Vijayalakshmi filed her nomination papers.
Prior to this, Vijayalakshmi paid an emotional homage to her husband at his grave in Idupulapaya.
–Agencies