Jagan Allies Not To Be Suspended: DS

Categorically stating that there would be 'no suspension', Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President D Srinivas on Tuesday expressed confidence that the MLAs moving with former Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy would never leave the Congress.

Talking to media persons at Gandhi Bhavan, the PCC chief said that after the sudden death of former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, the state witnessed several political developments such as Jaganmohan Reddy leaving the party and the merger of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP) with the Congress.

Srinivas stated that the MLAs were joining hands with Jaganmohan Reddy only because of their attachment to the YSR family, but that did not imply that they were against the Congress.

He expressed optimism that the MLAs would always support the Congress whenever needed.

When asked about the speculation that the MLAs would be suspended from the party for allying with Jagan and making anti-high command statements, Srinivas said the party would not take such a serious step and suspend the MLAs as they had not crossed the 'Lakshman Rekha'.

Welcoming the Praja Rajyam Part into the party fold, Srinivas stated that the Congress would utilize the charisma of Chiranjeevi, and thus strengthen its base at the grassroots level.

The PCC chief said that the Congress would also offer a prominent position to Chiranjeevi considering his stature.

Reacting to the earlier allegations leveled by the PRP chief that corruption had been rampant during the rule of former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, Srinivas said "I do not know in what context he made those comments. However, the government has ordered a probe into all corruption allegations and the guilty will be punished."

Reacting to Telangana Congress MPs and MLAs threatening the government that they would boycott the budget session of the Assembly which is set to begin on February 17th, the PCC chief expressed optimism that the Centre would take a decision on the Telangana state issue soon.

When asked if and how the PRP MLAs would be accommodated in the upcoming cabinet expansion, Srinivas stated that the High Command would take a decision only after consulting Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on the issue.

When asked if his forthcoming visit to Delhi had any political implication, Srinivas said that he would be going to the national capital for party-related works and there was no political importance to the meeting.

However, sources in the Congress maintain that the PCC chief is headed to New Delhi to discuss cabinet expansion and the filling of Assembly Speaker and Deputy Chief Minister posts. These issues have been pending for the past 2 months.

Courtesy: INN