The internal feud in the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh intensified on Wednesday with state Chief Minister K. Rosaiah asking party legislators to boycott Lok Sabha member Jagan Mohan Reddy’s consolation tour.
Rosaiah, who has been facing lack of cooperation from a section of ministers close to Reddy since he took over in September last year, said participation in the ‘Odarpu Yatra’ would amount to “gross indiscipline”. “If anyone violates this and takes part in the yatra, the party will deal with them appropriately,” he said.
The CM said it was evident from Reddy’s letter, released on Tuesday, that Congress president Sonia Gandhi was not in favour of the campaign.
“I have clearly asked them (Congress legislators) not to participate in the yatra as it did not have the Congress high command’s approval,” he said.
Reddy is planning to resume his campaign to commiserate with families of those who died of shock or committed suicide after the death of his father and then Chief Minister Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy in a helicopter crash last September.
Reddy has said he will stick to his plan to resume his yatra from the coastal district of Srikakulam on Thursday.
{{/usCountry}}Reddy has said he will stick to his plan to resume his yatra from the coastal district of Srikakulam on Thursday.
{{/usCountry}}In Delhi, the Congress downplayed Reddy’s decision. “There are far greater issues, such as the Kashmir situation and economy, to deal with. This is not an issue about which we are worried,” party spokesperson Jayanthi Natarajan said.
Gandhi had earlier suggested that instead of a statewide tour, he assemble the affected families and console them together, as well as offer them financial assistance. Reddy did not do so. Yet, the party is unlikely to take tough action against him in view of his “emotional attachment” with the tour.