Telangana crisis has helped YSR Reddy’s son

Amid the turmoil over Telangana, a movement that has shaken chief minister K Rosaiah’s chair, much is being read into late chief minister YSR Reddy’s son YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s silence.

The young MP, who was seen as a CM contender within hours of YSR’s death, has so far not said anything to quell the fires though leaders from his Rayalaseema region have threatened drastic measures if the Centre does not retract the pro-Telangana decision.
But there are rumours in political corridors that a majority of the 130 MLAs who sent in their resignations and 20-odd ministers who threatened to quit over Telangana also figured in the list of 120 who had put forth Jagan’s candidature for chief ministership.

Thus, signatories to the pro-Jagan campaign have used the opportunity to isolate Rosaiah. “It is very difficult to point fingers at Jagan as there is no evidence. But, it is his camp that has refused to support Rosaiah in these times of trouble,” a senior Congressman operating out of Delhi said.

“There is circumstantial evidence to show that the aggrieved Congress MLAs and ministers are trying to destabilise Rosaiah. Knowing that these MLAs and ministers were chanting the Jagan mantra till yesterday, Jagan has done nothing to calm things down. Maybe he is waiting for the high command to request him to intervene,” another Congress leader said.

But there are unconfirmed reports that finance minister Pranab Mukherjee requested Jagan to urge the agitated Congress MLAs, MPs and ministers to cooperate with Rosaiah in clearing the mess.

But, even if one concedes that Jagan has a role in the unrest in the state, what is his game plan? “Considering the post-YSR drama in the state, it is safe to assume that Jagan would try to prove to the high command that he remains the trouble shooter in Andhra Pradesh affairs. And, he would also prove to the masters that there is no alternate leadership but for him. However, he would do so only on invitation,” a political analyst said.