It appears YSR Congress Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy decided to give up his neutral political stand at the national level and take a firm stand in favour of INDIA bloc.
It was evident from the way quite a few INDIA bloc leaders such as Samajwadi Party president Akhilesh Yadav joined Jagan’s protest in Delhi a couple of days ago.
Besides Akhilesh, representatives of Shiv Sena (UBT), Trinamool Congress (TMC), Tamil Nadu Dalit outfit VCK and Indian Union Muslim League also came to his dharna site.
Sources said YSRCP also sent an invite to Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge to join Jagan’s protest against “anarchy in Andhra”, but the party had chosen to stay away.
The INDIA bloc leaders reportedly invited Jagan to join the alliance, for which he has given a positive signal. They told him that if he was firm in his stand, they would convince the Congress as well.
Jagan reportedly told them that he has no strong opposition to the Congress, but the biggest hitch is his sister Y S Sharmila, who is now heading the Congress party in Andhra Pradesh.
Sharmila has been attacking her brother with strong words and even declared that he is trying to gain political mileage out of non-political killings in the state.
“If she can be sidelined in the party, Jagan appears to have no hesitation to openly declare his support to the Congress-led INDIA bloc,” sources said.
When media persons asked him about his new-found love towards INDIA, Jagan evaded a direct reply and said he had sought support “from all parties which condemn violence.”
Sources said Jagan might soon take a call on taking a stand on the support of INDIA bloc. Already, his party has demanded that the deputy speaker post should be given to the INDIA bloc partners.