Taking note of the absence of a majority of MLAs in his ongoing ‘Odarpu yatra', Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy on Sunday asserted: “their absence does not matter as I enjoy people's support.”
“I am not alone. I am proud to be the son of YSR, who had left me a very big family. When people are with me who can say I am alone,” he asked drawing a huge round of applause from his admirers who had been patiently waiting for hours to hear him at Veligandla.
As the yatra entered the third day on Sunday, Mines Minister Balineni Srinivasa Reddy came out strongly in support of Mr. Jagan and said: “Mr Jagan's leadership is needed for effective implementation of a large number of welfare schemes launched by YSR.”
Lone Minister
“I am ready for any sacrifice. The Minister's post is YSR's biksha,” asserted Mr. Balineni, the lone Minister to take part in the yatra along with Darsi MLA B. Sivaprasad Reddy and Mr. Jagan's uncle Y.V. Subba Reddy among others.
The yatra proceeded at a snail's pace in the mandals of Kanigiri, Veligandla and H.M. Padu as YSR admirers stopped Mr. Jagan at every crossroads.
Mr. Jagan consoled the family members of two persons, who had died of shock in the wake of helicopter crash that killed YSR last year, and unveiled the statue of his father in over 20 places.
Following ‘directive' from the party central leadership, eight MLAs and two MLCs from the district did not take part in the yatra. So is the case with Union Minister of State for Textiles Panabaka Lakshmi, in whose Baptala constituency four Assembly segments in Prakasam district fell, and also Ongole MP Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy.
Zilla Parishad chairperson K. Arunamma was among a large number of second rung party leaders who were present. Kakinada MLA D. Chandrasekhar Reddy called on Mr. Jagan and expressed solidarity.
