YSR Congress (YSRC) president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy has been in jail for over 100 days, but that has not prevented him from carrying out his political agenda and shortlisting candidates for the Assembly elections in 2014.
Till recently, Jagan was liberal in meeting visitors during the ‘mulaqat’ in Chanchalguda jail but of late he is selective about whom he should meet. The Kadapa MP is said to be utilising his time in planning out his party’s strategy for the elections, either those for the panchayat raj bodies in the coming months or the Assembly and the Lok Sabha in 2014.
Interviews
Over the last few weeks, he met several probables for the party ticket and, after interviewing them, gave them the go-ahead to start working for the next elections.
Notable among them was Vijaya Reddy, daughter of former CLP leader, the late P. Janardhan Reddy. Only after their meeting did Ms. Vijaya Reddy join the party; she is now tipped to be the YSRC candidate from Khairatabad constituency.
It is believed that GHMC corporator from Habsiguda, Singireddy Harivardhan Reddy has got the green signal to contest from Medchal Assembly. He later joined the party with fanfare and invited YSRC leader Vijayamma to Jawaharnagar in Medchal constituency.
Sources said Sanjeeva Rao, who contested the Assembly elections from Vikarabad (SC) constituency, had recently met Jagan in jail and got the nod for the party ticket.
Another influential Congress leader from Ranga Reddy district is tipped to get the party ticket from Uppal.
Summoning hopefuls
It is understood that Jagan was summoning the hopefuls only after getting a thorough feedback about their prospects. A systematic survey and comprehensive background check besides the standing of the aspirants preceded the granting of green signal. Party seniors are understood to be regularly briefing him about the developments.
A senior Minister confirmed that a number of party leaders in the twin cities and neighbouring Rangareddy district were ready to jump into the bandwagon of the YSR Congress.
“Our efforts to arrest this trend is not succeeding as Jagan is meeting the hopefuls and assuring them that he would field them on behalf of the YSRC,” the Minister remarked.
