MLAs distancing themselves from Jagan: Sailajanath

Primary Education Minister S Sailajanath on Tuesday claimed that MLAs who were earlier supporting former MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy are now drifting back to the Congress.

Citing an example, Mr Sailajanath said that Badvel MLA Kamalamma, who earlier supported former Kadapa before he launched his `YSR Congress Party,’ has now disassociated herself from Mr Jaganmohan Reddy and was now openly extending support to Congress candidate for Kadapa Lok Sabha DL Ravindra Reddy.

Talking to media persons at Congress Legislature Party office, the Primary Education Minister expressed confidence that those MLAs who are moving closely with Mr Jaganmohan Reddy are still in the Congress party and they will sooner than later start distancing themselves from the former MP.

Denying that this gradual distancing of the MLAs from the former MP was part of any Congress conspiracy, Mr Sailajanath said that the MLAs are realizing the futility of their earlier action and were now slowly distancing themselves from the Jagan group. “There is no need to hatch any conspiracy to bring those MLAs, who are indirectly supporting Jaganmohan Reddy back to the party,” he stated.

Reacting on Dr DL Ravindra Reddy’s allegations that former the Kadapa MP had paid Rs 5 lakh to get Telugu Desam Party MLA Paritala Ravi killed in 2005, Mr Sailajanath said the case was being investigated by Central Bureau of Investigation. “It is better not to comment on the case as it is in the CBI Court,” he said.

He further added, “I do not know why the Dr Ravindra Reddy raised this issue.” When pressed to comment further, Mr Sailajanath said, “You better ask this question to Dr Ravindra Reddy.”

Reacting on the reports that the police had taken a section of Congress workers into custody as a precautionary measure, the Minister said that this was a ‘normal practice of arresting people with criminal background.’ The arrests are part of the measures announced by the Election Commission to ensure that the polls are conducted in a peaceful manner.

Reacting on the resignation of Agriculture Minister YS Vivekananda Reddy from his post, Mr Sailajanath said that the Congress High Command will take a decision soon on this. He added that the High Command will also take a decision whether Dr Ravindra Reddy needs to resign from the Cabinet before facing the electorate.