No harsh action against MLAs supporting Jagan: DS

Categorically stating that there would be ‘No Suspension’ Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas on Tuesday expressed confidence that the MLAs moving with former Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy would never leave the Congress.

Talking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan, the PCC chief said that after the sudden death of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, state witnessed several political developments such as Mr Jaganmohan Reddy leaving the party and the merger of Praja Rajyam Party with Congress.

Mr Srinivas stated that the MLAs were joining shoulders with Mr Jaganmohan Reddy only because of their attachment to the YSR family, but this does not mean that the have anything against the Congress.

He expressed optimism that the MLAs would always support the Congress whenever needed.

When asked about the speculation that the MLAs would be suspend from the party for allying with Mr Jaganmohan Reddy and for making anti-High Command statements, Mr Srinivas said the party would not take such a serious step and suspend the MLAs as ‘they had not crossed the ‘Lakshman Rekha’’.

Welcoming the Praja Rajyam Part into the party fold, Mr Srinivas stated that the Congress would utilize the charisma of the party’s president K Chiranjeevi and thus strengthen its base at the grassroots level.

The PCC chief said the Congress would also offer a prominent position to Mr Chiranjeevi considering his stature.

Reacting on the earlier allegations leveled by the PRP chief that corruption was rampant during the rule of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Mr Srinivas said “I do not know in what context he made those comments. However, the government has ordered probe into all corruption allegations and the guilty would be punished.”

Reacting on Telangana Congress MPs and MLAs threatening the government that they would boycott Budget Session of the Assembly which is set to begin on February 17, the PCC chief expressed optimism that the Centre would take a decision on Telangana state issue soon.

When asked if and how the PRP MLAs would be accommodated in the upcoming Cabinet expansion, Mr Srinivas stated that the High Command would take a decision only after consulting Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on the issue.

When asked that his forthcoming visit to Delhi has any political implication, Mr Srinivas said that he would be going to the National Capital for party related works and there was no political importance to the meeting.

However, sources in the Congress maintain that the PCC chief was headed to New Delhi to discuss Cabinet expansion and filling of Speaker post in the Assembly and Deputy Chief Minister post. These issues have been pending since the past two months.

The pundits said, Kiran, who replaced Jagan group Ministers during cabinet expansion, now whom will be replaced from cabinet. We have to wait and watch.