YS Jaganmohan Reddy, his mother launch campaign for May 8 bypolls

Making a head-start, YSR Congress party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy and his mother YS Vijayalakshmi today separately launched their campaign for the May 8 by-elections for Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh.Vijayalakshmi and Jagan, along with other members of the family, paid homage to late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy at his grave in Rajiv Knowledge Valley, Kadapa, before kick-starting their election campaign.Addressing a gathering after unveiling his party flag at Mylavaram, Jagan, a former MP, said the by-elections would usher-in significant changes in Andhra Pradesh politics. "The by-polls are a fight between the late YSR's legacy and the Congress high command."At Parnepalli in Pulivendula constituency, which is part of Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, Vijayalakshmi went on a door-to-door campaign seeking votes for her. Jagan's wife Bharati too began a door-to-door campaign in Tonduru mandal on behalf of her mother-in-law.While Jagan will file his nomination papers for the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat on April 15, Vijayalakshmi will complete the formality the next day.The by-elections are being held as the mother and the son quit their respective posts as well as the Congress in November last alleging that the Sonia Gandhi-led party not only humiliated their family but also caused a split in it.Meanwhile, the ruling Congress' woes in finding a suitable match for Jagan in Kadapa seemed unending. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy held wide-ranging consultations with party leaders from Kadapa last night and followed it up with yet another round this morning.