Kadapa, February 27: A last minute effort to avert a split in the family of late YSR failed with Minister for Agriculture Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy spurning his nephew Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy’s offer to support him if he contested as MLC (from Local Authorities Constituency) from Kadapa district.
YSR’s family members, relatives and well-wishers prevailed on Mr. Vivekananda Reddy over the last four days to reconsider his decision to contest against his sister-in-law Vijayalakshmi in the bypoll for Pulivendula seat and instead opt for the MLC seat. They conveyed Jagan’s resolve to extend support to the Minister by not fielding its candidate against him and ensure his unanimous election.
‘Not keen’
However, Mr. Vivekananda Reddy was apparently disinclined to accept the offer and made his point clear to former Advisor to the Government C.C. Reddy, his close relative, that he would abide by the Congress high command’s directives. After failure of the efforts, the Jagan group on Saturday announced the candidature of Chadipiralla Narayana Reddy, brother of Congress MLA C. Adinarayana Reddy.
Nonetheless, several leaders appealed to Mr. Vivekananda Reddy to reconsider his decision and sail with the YSR family. They included Congress MLAs G. Srikanth Reddy, C. Adinarayana Reddy, A. Amarnatha Reddy, and P.M. Kamalamma, ZP Chairperson. Asserting that Jagan was going strong with YSR’s legacy, they hoped Mr. Vivekananda Reddy would keep up the family prestige and interests.
Congress blamed
Squarely blaming the Congress high command of pressuring him with a vindictive attitude to engineer a split in YSR family, they said Mr. Vivekananda Reddy could still play the “big brother” role in Jagan group.
-Agencies