The Congress leadership has told party MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy to keep a low profile in Andhra Pradesh and not to do anything that might “embarrass” the Rosaiah government.
Union Law Minister and party in-charge of Andhra Pradesh Veerappa Moily, who met Mr. Reddy here on Tuesday morning, told journalists that he had made it clear to the MP that he must abandon his ongoing tour of the State. It had triggered violence in different parts of the State and had become a headache for the State government.
The fact that Mr. Reddy travelled with a large contingent of supporters, Mr. Moily said, was creating a problem for the State government. In answer to a question, he strenuously denied that he had given the young MP from Kadapa “clearance” to continue with the yatra.
Met Sonia's secretary
Party sources added that Mr. Reddy also had a brief 15-minute meeting on Monday night with Congress president Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel.
Curiously, Mr. Reddy had told journalists earlier in the day that he had been given permission to continue with his tour of coastal Andhra and that all issues had been “sorted out.” “He [Moily] has given me the go-ahead,” Mr. Reddy said after meeting Mr. Moily, even claiming “this tour of mine was widely appreciated by him and he had given a very clear indication to do what I am supposed to be doing”.
He said Mr. Moily gave him his blessings to continue with the yatra. In reply to a question on whether the misunderstanding with the party high command had been sorted out, he said, “If at all you call it a misunderstanding, things are now under control. Everything is clear and sorted out.” He added that he would resume his yatra from June 8 to Srikakulam in coastal Andhra and thereafter travel to the Telangana region to grieve with families of the victims after the completion of the by-elections in the sensitive region.
Clearly, Mr. Reddy is in denial, party sources said, adding that he is taking advantage of the fact that the party high command will not act against him for a while, not at least till the Rajya Sabha elections are over.
