Cornered Jagan Reddy supporters hit back

With the Congress high command making up its mind to take disciplinary action against the rebel Member of Parliament Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, his camp followers have stepped up their counter attacks.

In a strong reaction to Union minister S Jaipal Reddy's comments against son of former chief minister Y S Rajashekhara Reddy, his supporters have questioned Jaipal Reddy's moral right to teach discipline to Jagan.

Suspended Pradesh Congress Committee secretary Ambati Ram Babu and others have warned that expelling Jagan form the party will be madness. "I don't think that the party will take such a mad decision", he said even as the reports from New Delhi suggest that the party will issue a show cause notice to member of Lok Sabha from Kadapa.

All India Congress Committee met in New Delhi on Saturday to take stock of the situation arising out of Jagan owned TV channel Sakshi airing programs targeting party president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and Rahul Gandhi.

The first hint that high command was very serious on the issue was dropped by Jaipal Reddy when he described the telecast of anti Congress programs on Sakshi as undesirable and said that it will weaken the Congress party.

Gone Prakash, an acerbic Jagan loyalist dismissed Jaipal Reddy as "a big iron leg" and said that he had no right to any comments on Jaganmohan Reddy when he had contested against Indira Gandhi form Medak in the past.

Ambati Ram Babu said that it was wrong to held Jagan responsible for the programs aired on Sakshi channel.

Jaganmohan Reddy was busy in confabulations with his supporters on Saturday. Sources said that he had decided to wait till newly elected Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy forms his cabinet.

He reportedly asked his supporters not to lobby for the ministerial posts. "If they give you the post, accept it. If they don't, keep quiet. We will wait and watch" is the reported advice of Jagan to his supporters.

The supporters among the legislators have also been asked to be ready to tender their resignation if such a need arises.

According to the latest assessment, Jagan is left with only ten to fifteen MLAs, three MLCs and only one Member of Lok Sabha M Rajmohan Reddy of Nellore. He was among the handful of leaders who met Jagan on Saturday.

Even if Jagan can carry ten MLAs with him, this will be sufficient to plunge the Congress government in the state into a crisis because at present it has only 156 members in the 294 member assembly. For a simple majority party needs 148 members. That Jagan supporters walking out will attract disqualification is another matter.

However, the Congress leadership has already prepared a contingency plan to face any such crisis by getting an assurance from Praja Rajyam Party leader Chiranjeevi that his 16 legislators will extend support.

Split in YSR family?

Meanwhile, in a significant development Jaganmohan Reddy has suffered a set back as the Congress high command has successful wooed his uncle YS Vivekanand Reddy, a MLC.

Informed sources said that he will be among the 10 to 15 new faces to be inducted in the state cabinet.

If YS Vivekanand is taken in to cabinet and given some important portfolio wile taking action against Jaganmohan Reddy, it will cause a split in the YS family.