Dynasty, big bucks and finally jail for YSR’s son

From a small-time businessman to a formidable political leader, YS Jaganmohan Reddy — better known as Jagan — had a rather smooth ride for over a decade before hitting one bump after another and finally finding himself in CBI's custody.

From a small-time businessman to a formidable political leader, YS Jaganmohan Reddy — better known as Jagan — had a rather smooth ride for over a decade before hitting one bump after another and finally finding himself in CBI's custody.

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The only son of late Andhra Pradesh chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Jagan began his business career in 1999-2000 by establishing a tiny power company Sandur, Karnataka.

His business rose meteorically once his father became the CM in 2004.

The 39-year-old’s political ambitions were first revealed in late 2004 when he aspired to become an MP from Kadapa but the Congress high command nipped that in the bud. He had to wait till 2009 to fulfil his dream.

His father's tragic death in a helicopter crash in September 2009, changed things for Jagan.

He wanted to succeed his late father to the CM’s throne but the Congress brass was unwilling. Disillusioned, Jagan gradually began defying the Congress bosses and, by early 2010 was charting his own course.

He took the 'Odarpu Yatra' path to build his political career independently, much to the discomfiture of the ruling party.

But Jagan's popularity grew while that of the ruling Congress' dipped gradually.

The flashpoint came in November 2010 when the Congress made N Kiran Kumar Reddy the CM in place of K Rosaiah in an ostensible bid to effectively counter Jagan. On November 29, 2010, Jagan called it quits and walked out of the Congress and resigned from his Lok Sabha membership.

In March 2011, Jagan announced the setting up of his own YSR Congress throwing a challenge to Congress and TDP.

He won the by-election to Kadapa Lok Sabha seat with a record margin of over five lakh votes in May 2011 while his mother YS Vijaya won the Pulivendula Assembly seat in an emphatic fashion.

Ever since, the YSR Congress became the thorn in the flesh of Congress, particularly in the Andhra-Rayalaseema regions.

In the by-elections in March, the Congress faced a complete rout when it lost all the seven seats, six of them in Telangana and one in coastal Andhra.

Now, as the state heads for by-elections to one Lok Sabha and 18 assembly seats on June 12, the YSR Congress is the clear favourite to win the elections, which could spell doom for the Congress government.