Jagan using YSR's name is unethical, unholy: Congress

The Congress Party leaders took umbrage against YSR Congress Party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy for utilizing his father’s name and fame in the by-election campaign in the Kadapa district and termed it as ‘unethical and unholy’.

The Congress leaders have complained to Chief Electoral Officer Bhanwar Lal with evidence at the Secretariat on Saturday against the YSR Congress Party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy for allegedly resorting to lot of irregularities in the election campaign misusing the election symbol, portrait of Congress leader and former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy among others.

 Later addressing media persons, Congress leader Madasu Gangadhar asserted that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy had no right to use the picture or name of his father politically as YSR was a Congress leader till the last minute of his rule.

Only the Congress Party had the right to use YSR’s name and picture and his son had no such right, he claimed.

“We have no objection if Mr Jaganmohan Reddy uses his father’s picture in his house, nor do we have any objection if he is called the heir of YSR’s properties,” he said.

Stooping down to such claims by Mr Jaganmohan Reddy proved his political bankruptcy, the Congress leader said. “It is unethical for him to use his father’s name and picture in the campaign,” Mr Gangadhar stated.

Stating that Mr Jaganmohan Reddy was indulging in malpractices, Mr Gangadhar said that ceiling fans were being distributed in the district to influence and attract the attention of the voters.

Besides that, independents who filed nominations for the Kadapa seat were made to campaign for YS Jaganmohan Reddy, he alleged. The independents were allowed facilities like vehicle, personal passes and election agents and they were misusing those facilities to the advantage of Mr Jaganmohan Reddy, he further charged.

Independents’ vehicles were displaying the flags with ceiling fans which was gross violation of election rules. Documentary evidences were produced in respect of the Jagan-owned Sakshi newspaper giving publicity to the YSR Congress candidate.

Copies of letters written by Congress candidate D L Ravindra Reddy to the Election Commission of India complaining about the independents canvassing for Mr Jaganmohan Reddy were also displayed.

Similarly copies of Sakshi newspaper giving publicity to the YSR Congress Party candidate were shown to the press and the CEO.