Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas on Thursday stated that former Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy has no moral right to use the photograph of his father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy during campaigning for the Kadapa and Pulivendula by-elections since he has quit the Congress party.
Talking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan, the PCC chief asserted that YSR was the property of Congress even after his death.
Mr Srinivas also said that the party candidate for Pulivendula Assembly seat and Agriculture Minister YS Vivekananda Reddy was the true political heir of the former chief minister and Mr Jaganmohan Reddy has no right to use YSR photograph in the elections.
Reacting on Health Minister DL Ravindra Reddy, MP V Hanumantha Rao and Nizamabad MP Madhu Yaskyhi Goud levelling allegations of corruption against YSR, the PCC chief said that the party has nothing to do with these allegations since this was a view expressed in their personal capacity.
Reacting to allegations that the nine Ministers campaigning for the Congress were misusing their official position and were neglecting their responsibility of addressing the problems of the people, Mr Srinivas asserted that these charges were baseless. “The Ministers are not and had never misused their official position. They have discharged their duties efficiently,” he said.
The PCC chief also stated that he has no differences with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy over the selection of candidates to contest the by-elections. “The media has launched a ‘malicious’ campaign against the Congress,” he stated.
Mr Srinivas also stated that Congress In-Charge for Andhra Pradesh Affairs Ghulam Nabi Azad will also campaign for the party candidates in the by-elections. However, he said that the schedule of the High Command’s representative would be announced after it is confirmed.
Apart from Mr Azad, the High Command was also contemplating to use the services of Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi in the campaign, the PCC chief stated.
Reacting on the allegations that the state government issued GO No 177 to further weaken the separate statehood agitation, Mr Srinivas said that he was not aware of the contents of the GO. “I will react only after going through the GO. As far as I know, no GO is issued for against any specific part of the state. I am sure that GO is certainly not issued against Telangana but it covers employees across the state,” he stated.
Reacting on Budvel MLA Kamalamma and others rejoining the YSR Congress Party, Mr Srinivas stated that serious action would be taken against those who indulge in anti-party activities.
Reacting on paying of compensation to kin of victims, who died of shock after the death of YSR, he said that report has been submitted to High Command. After conducting an enquiry, the High Command will take a decision on the issue, he added.