Jagan Tried To Lure Cong MLAs: Botsa

Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana, on Sunday, alleged that YSR Congress Party president Jaganmohan Reddy was trying to lure at least 30 Congress MLAs into his party to dethrone the Kiran Kumar Reddy government.

Talking to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan, Botsa said that the Congress MLAs were lured by the Kadapa MP with plenty of cash, sops and posts to join his group. However, he said that these MLAs did not fall into Jagan's trap, and that they had reported the matter to the PCC.

The MLAs, he said, realised that Jagan was trying to dethrone the state government in order to protect himself from the CBI investigation into the case of his assets.

However, Botsa said only 2 MLAs had switched their loyalties in favour of the Jagan group. The Congress would take stern disciplinary action against the rebel MLAs, he said.

He added that the party would make a representation to Assembly speaker Nadendla Manohar and other authorities to ensure that these MLAs, after disqualification, does not contest the election again till 2014.

The PCC chief said that the state government would take all measures to ensure the maintenance of law and order in the state. Saying that YSR Congress Party leaders would face dire consequences if they try to violate the peace in the state, he said the government would not remain a mute spectator to the conspiracies of violence being hatched by Jagan's supporters.

He alleged that the anti-social elements were being hired by the YSR Congress to disturb the law and order in AP.

Botsa denied Jagan's allegations that the Congress was trying to postpone the by-elections. He said the Congress was all set to sweep the by-elections, as the people would certainly not vote for candidates of a party being led by a person facing serious corruption charges. (INN)