The YSR Congress Party has embarked upon charting a course of action to reach out to masses and revitalise the morale of the cadre that is perceived to be at a low after the refusal of bail by the Supreme Court to party president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
As Mr. Reddy is certain to spend the next few months in the prison following the apex court’s order, the party, according to sources, is exploring ways to see that the leaders and cadre continue to be active in countering the Congress and Telugu Desam’s propaganda against it and allay apprehensions on whether it could maintain the edge over the two principal rivals.
Reaching out to the people to explain to them on how the government was diluting the programmes kick-started by late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy was the only option left before the party, but opinion appears to be divided over the mode in which the task has to be achieved.
A section of leaders favour padayatra by party’s honorary president Y.S. Vijayalakshmi which they feel would motivate the leaders and cadre to counter the propaganda against the party. But, another section is strongly opposing the move keeping in view the health condition of Ms. Vijayamma. “Undertaking a padayatra is not going to be a day’s affair and it will need lot of energy to sustain the programme,” a leader pointed out.
Jagan yet to reveal his stand
Sources said Mr. Jagan was inclined in favour of a mass contact programme, but had not revealed his mind on whether Ms. Vijayalakshmi should undertake the exercise or some other family member.
The party leaders, it is said, are in favour of Ms. Vijayamma reviving the “Odarpu Yatra” from the place where Mr. Reddy left it just before the announcement of schedule for the recent by-elections.
“The Odarpu Yatra can be converted to padayatra at a later date after Mr. Reddy is released,” a senior leader said.
It is against this background, the Central Governing Council of the YSRC along with heads of the district committees is meeting on Wednesday to finalise a course of action that would be initiated once Mr. Reddy gives his go ahead.
