Hyderabad, November 18: The State Congress and especially the Chief Minister Mr. K. Rosaiah are of late seem to be haunted by the shadow of late Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy !.
The recent incidents during various functions organised by the state government as well as the party organization in connections with the 125th anniversary of the Indian National Congress amply speaks of
this.
The supporters of late YSR not only created a ruckus at these functions or meetings but also forced the speakers to shower accolades on the late Chief Minister for his services rendered to the ruling party and the state.
The loyalists of late YSR vociferously protested at the absence of the photos of the late Chief Minister and also about not making any reference to his services at a number of functions held in the Telangana region. The meetings and functions were disturbed by the YSR loyalists by continuously chanting slogans in praise of YSR and did not allow the speakers to continue their address unless they eulogized the services of YSR.
As a matter of fact at one function organized in Warangal district by the APCC to condole and pay an ex-gratia of one lakh rupees to those who had committed suicide in the wake of YSR’s demise, the protests by YSR loyalists marred the function. Moreover when Rajya Sabha member Mr. V. Hanumantha Rao (VHR) was addressing the gathering, his speech was drowned by slogans in praise of YSR. This led to a heated argument
between YSR loyalists and Mr. Hanumantha Rao and forced the meeting to conclude abruptly. What is more the incident remained a subject matter of discussion in the ruling party circles over the remarks made by VHR
over the disturbance created by YSR supporters.
Similar disturbance sparked off at a function in Bhongir in Nalgonda district which ultimately led to a heated argument between Minister Mr. Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and former Minister Mr. R. Damodar Reddy. What is intriguing is that while Mr. Venkata Reddy tried to pacify YSR supporters, who protested over the absence of YSR photos on the dais, by recalling the services of the late Chief Minister, Mr. Damodar Reddy took strong objection by saying that YSR had created hurdles for the formation of separate Telangana state. However another senior leader from the district Mr. K.Jana Reddy pacified both the warring leaders.
Such disturbances witnessed at functions organised in Telangana district led to speculation that the Kadapa MP, Mr. Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was behind those incidents in a bid to remain in lime after his failure to organize Odarupu Yatras in the region.
However as if to negate this theory of Jagan trying to make his presence felt in the Telangana region, similar disturbances rocked a function organized in Visakhapatnam to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Congress party and where the Chief Minister. Mr. Rosaiah was the chief guest. The slogan shouting YSR loyalists made the Chief Minister as well as the APCC President Mr. D. Srinivas to pay glowing tributes to YSR for his services to the party and the state.
It is pertinent to note here that Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy has already become popular with his Odarpu Yatras in the north costal Andhra region which attracted unprecedented and mammoth response from the masses. Hence the theory that he was making desperate attempts to remain in limelight by organizing the protests in the name of his late father does not hold water, feel impartial political observers.
There is no denial of the fact that YSR had made a name for himself as Chief Minister and captured the hearts of the masses with various welfare and developmental schemes. One cannot also rule out the fact
that some vested interests within in the Congress were desperately trying to throw cold water on YSR legacy. But the recent incidents only goes to prove that it would not be that easy to erase the YSR era
as the shadow of the late Chief Minister will continue to cast its spell especially after his untimely and tragic demise.
Another hidden message in these happenings is that after YSR his son and Kadapa MP Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy has captured the hearts of the masses, even if it is mainly due to the sympathy factor. Therefore any
attempt to sideline or ignore YSR’s son would be not in the best interests of the ruling Congress in the State.
——–NSS