Why Congress WON'T sack minister named in Jagan DA case

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy has been named in the charge-sheet of the Central Bureau of Investigation’s chargesheet against Jagan Mohan Reddy in the disproportionate assets case against the YSR Congress chief.

She is expected to resign soon but the ruling Congress is unlikely to accept her resignation.

The party will try to retain Reddy in the cabinet in spite of her perceived closeness to the family of former chief minister YSR Reddy and his son Jagan.

Earlier, the party had not taken any action against Roads and Buildings Minister D Prasad Rao, who was also named in connection with the case by the CBI.

Reddy, who hails from Telangana, enjoys considerable clout in the region. Her late husband Indra Reddy, a former home minister in the state government headed by N T Rama Rao, was also a popular leader in the region.

Reddy is the first woman home minister of the state. The Congress also needs her to keep the turbulent situation in Telangana under control. Since the party is dillydallying about its promise to form a separate state at the Centre, it needs to keep pro-Telangana protests in check back home.

Unlike some of her fellow colleagues, Reddy has not joined the YSR Congress Party founded by Jagan, even though she is still close to his family. She was often referred to as the ‘younger sister’ of YSR Reddy and held the crucial mining portfolio in the cabinet led by him.

If the party acts tough with her, Reddy may walk out and join the YSR Congress; the party cannot afford to let go of such an important leader from Telangana. Reddy may even turn the popular sentiment in the volatile region against the Congress.

Even if the Congress accepts her resignation, the party will do everything to stay on her good side.