Supporters of rebel leader Jaganmohan Reddy, who quit the Congress on Monday, are reaching out to legislators of regional parties in a bid to bring down the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh.
The son of late chief minister YS Rajasekhra Reddy (YSR), Jagan's camp is said to be in touch with four dissident lawmakers of actor-turned-politician Cheeranjivi's Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) and two from the main opposition Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
PRP has 18 MLAs. At least six of them would have to walk out together to avoid being disqualified under the anti-defection law. If this happens, the PRP would be unable to bail out the Congress government should a large number of Jagan loyalists quit.
Two rebel TDP MLAs have already pledged support for Jagan. Prasanna Kumar Reddy and Bala Naga Reddy were suspended from the party for hobnobbing with the Congress, and their case for disqualification is pending before the speaker.
After year of dissidence for not being allowed to replace his father since YSR's death in a helicopter crash in September 2009, Jagan quit the Congress on Monday and also resigned as the Congress MP from Kadappa.
{{/usCountry}}After year of dissidence for not being allowed to replace his father since YSR's death in a helicopter crash in September 2009, Jagan quit the Congress on Monday and also resigned as the Congress MP from Kadappa.
{{/usCountry}}His resignation was precipitated by the Congress decision to replace K Rosaiah with Kiran Kumar Reddy as the chief minister last week.
Besides trying to reach out to legislators of other parties, Jagan is also hoping to wean away the largest possible chunk of MLAs from within the Congress. Currently, he is said to have the support of 30 MLAs.
He is likely to wait till Kiran Reddy names his new cabinet and fills up other profitable posts, hoping that disgruntled leaders would walk into his camp on their own.
"He may not say it, but he may still be hoping that he could get another chance at leadership in case the Kiran Kumar Reddy government falls. That could explain his advice to his followers not to resign," said Y Prakash, a Congress activist.