Sharmila to take bus ride on Jagan sympathy wave

HYDERABAD: The YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on Thursday decided to launch a bus yatra across the 13 Seemandhra districts to take advantage of the sympathy wave generated by party leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's fast in jail and expose the 'double talk' of the Congress and TeluguDesam Party.

Jagan's sister Y S Sharmila, who will undertake the yatra, will highlight the party's official stand of either ensuring equal justice to all regions of Andhra Pradesh or maintaining status quo.

YSRCP sources said Sharmila will begin her bus yatra on September 2, the fourth death anniversary of late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy at Idupulapaya and continue her tour in the Seemandhra districts, where support for the party has increased largely because of its stand against the division of the state. As many as 17 MLAs of the party have already submitted their resignations to protest the Congress decision to bifurcate the state. Jagan and his mother Y S Vijayamma also quit their posts demanding equal justice for all three regions.

The Seemandhra districts have been on the boil since the Congress announced its decision to carve out a separate Telangana state. YSRCP further consolidated its position in the region with Vijayamma launching an indefinite fast in Guntur that was foiled by police on the sixth day when her health deteriorated. Jagan took over the baton from his mother and launched an indefinite fast in Chachalguda prison the next day without informing jail authorities.

This sparked a series of indefinite fasts across the Seemandhra region in his support. "At least 2,500 people, including YSRCP activists, are on indefinite fast in support of Jagan. Their health is deteriorating and the situation is alarming," said a senior party leader.

Meanwhile, YSR Congress leaders, who met here on Thursday to take stock of the situation, decided to launch "jail bharo" from Friday in support of Jagan's fast.

Worried YSRCP cadre is rushing to Hyderabad to have a glimpse of their leader but police and jail authorities are not allowing people to gather before Chanchalguda jail where Jagan has been in judicial custody for more than a year. Security has been beefed up around the jail after the number of visitors shot up. Police have also arrested a few Jagan supporters.

"Jagan is the only leader in the state who is seriously concerned about welfare of people in three regions. His fast is creating tremors in the Seemandhra region," said Balineni Srinivasa Reddy, former minister and YSRCP leader.