Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today virtually dared former Congress MP S Jaganmohan Reddy to pull down his government, bluntly telling him that he was not at his mercy.
“No one is at anyone’s mercy here. I’m not at anybody’s mercy. Everyone who is here are at the mercy of Congress party,” he told a press conference here when asked about Jagan’s boast that the Chief Minister was surviving due to his mercy.
Mr. Jagan had told the media here recently that he was doing a great favour to the Congress. “As I’m a gentleman, your (Kiran Kumar’s) government is surviving. Had I told my MLAs to break away from Congress, your government would have collapsed long ago”.
Dismissing allegations from Mr. Jagan, the Chief Minister said “no injustice from Congress party has ever been done to him or his family.”
“We are very clear that madam (Sonia) Gandhi has got a very special place and liking towards (the late) Rajasekhar Reddy and she has encouraged Mr. Rajasekhar Reddy. That is the reason for his growth as the leader in the State.”
Attacking Mr. Jagan, the Chief Minister, who met Ms. Gandhi today, said those people who are now talking have never been in politics nor have they helped Mr. Rajasekhar Reddy to win any election anywhere or Congress party.
“It is their entry into politics a year or two years back and we are the people here from the Congress party...the leaders here... we have been working with Mr. Rajasekhar Reddy for last 20 (to) 30 years,” the Chief Minister said.
He reminded Mr. Jagan that Mr. Rajasekhar Reddy became the Chief Minister on both the occasions as the Congress Legislative Party had authorized Ms. Gandhi to select the CLP leader.
“So, if anyone is indebted to the Congress high command or Sonia Gandhiji or Congress party, it is Rajasekhar Reddy and the family of Mr. Rajasekhar Reddy (should be indebted towards Congress party),” Mr. Reddy said.
It is because of Congress that Mr. Rajasekhar Reddy has become a “tall” leader not only in the State but in the country, the Chief Minister said.
Besides he reminded Mr. Jagan, who quit Congress as also the Lok Sabha seat recently that though his late father had differences he had never challenged the authority of the Congress high command.
Seeking to project Mr. Jagan in a poor light, Mr. Reddy said “what is the service of anyone to Congress party? His (Jagan) service to the party is for one year. That is from 2009 elections.”
“There are people elected from ’72. I am MLA from ’89...last 20 years. So, Congress has not done any injustice to anyone. ..... Congress has given MP ticket to Mr. Jagan...made madam Mrs Reddy as MLA......Other brother, who is a minister now, was made MLC...previous time, he was the MP from Kadapa,” he said.
The Chief Minister admitted as “embarrassing” the participation of party MLAs and MPs during a dharna in Delhi organised by Mr. Jagan and told them that it was “not morally right” for them to do so.
He hoped the “virtue” of moral conduct would prevail on the MLAs and MPs in future.
