The Congress High Command on Tuesday suspended Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, considered a staunch loyalist of Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy from the party for anti-party activities.
The High Command issued suspension orders and issued a show-cause notice to Mr Reddy, seeking explanation within seven days for his recent remarks in support of the Kadapa MP.
PCC president D Srinivas issued the suspension orders following the directions of High Command.
The High Command also suspended Mr Reddy from the primary membership of the party.
Mr Reddy is the second leader after PCC general secretary Ambati Rambabu from the YS Jaganmohan Reddy group who has been suspended.
The suspended leader had reportedly said that any move to sideline YS Jaganmohan Reddy would weaken the party and it would have a serious impact on the future of the party.
Mr Reddy’s most critical comments was that he had charged the Rosaiah administration of indulging in a ‘witch hunt’ of the family members of former chief minister late YS Rajasekhara Reddy after his tragic demise.
Reacting to his suspension, Mr Reddy termed the decision as unwarranted and hasty.
He also wondered if extending support to Odarpu yatra of Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy was wrong.
The Congress leader also said that the suspension order would not deter him and it would not have any negative impact on the Odarpu yatra. Mr Reddy assured the supporters of the Kadapa MP that the Odarpu yatra will continue as people voluntarily participating in it.
“I have not made any statements against the High Command and the Chief Minister. I don’t know why they suspended me,” he wondered.
He said that he would elaborate on the subject after receiving the copy of the suspension orders.
Protesting his suspension, Congress activists staged a dharna in front of District Congress Committee office in Nellore wearing black badges.
The activists also locked the DCC office demanding revocation of the suspension orders.