Congress MLAs ignore appeals by party leaders, meet Jaganmohan Reddy

Despite the appeals of the party leadership, about 30 Congress and other party MLAs in Andhra Pradesh have called on former MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy who held a 48-hour-long fast here demanding better compensation to farmers who suffered heavy crop losses due to frequent cyclones and heavy rains in the last one year.

While over 25 MLAs, including those from Praja Rajyam, met Jagan till yesterday, three more called on him today.

Congress MP from Nellore M Rajamohan Reddy, who has been a strong supporter of Jaganmohan Reddy for long, not only attended the meeting today but also addressed the gathering. Another Congress MP Sabbam Hari met Reddy yesterday.

Significantly, Reddy also got the support of Manda Krishna Madiga, who fights for the categorisation of SCs for the purpose of reservation and benefit of Madiga community among dalits. Jupudi Prabhakar Rao, a leader of Mala community, has been strong supporter of Jagan.

The ruling party MLAs called on Reddy despite the reported efforts of chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to prevent the legislators from visiting the former Kadapa MP.

Though the Congress high command too has taken a serious note of the presence of the party MLAs at Reddy's fast here, it reportedly decided to adopt a wait and watch policy for now.

Despite the Congress MLAs calling on Reddy, leaders close to him maintain that he has no intention to destabilise the Congress government in Andhra Pradesh.

Konda Surekha, Congress MLA and a vocal supporter of Jagan, said in her address to the public meeting here today that the former Kadapa MP does not intend to destabilise the government.

Reddy himself had indicated that he does not have any intention to destabilise the Congress government in the state.