AICC Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP V Hanumantha Rao alleged that former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was a corrupt politician, and that he had promoted the corrupt practices of his son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy while in power.
Talking to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan, V Hanumantha Rao said that he has been reiterating that both YSR and Jagan had indulged in large-scale corruption in the state. However, some ministers were not willing to speak against Jagan due to personal reasons, he said.
But a majority of Congress leaders share the same opinion, that YSR and Jagan were equally corrupt, claimed VH.
Hanumantha Rao said that the Congress would not lose anything if it avoids using YSR's photograph during its by-election campaign.
He said that the identity of 125-year-old Congress party was not confined to one leader, and that the Congress candidates can easily win elections by using photographs of party leaders Indira Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.
He also requested Congress General Secretary Rahul Gandhi to participate in the campaign for the next by-polls to be held in 18 Assembly constituencies and one Parliament seat.
Hanumantha Rao refuted media reports that Chiranjeevi was being given due importance only after he merged his Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress.
He said that Chiranjeevi had entered politics for the cause of social justice, and that he had saved the Congress government at the "right time". Therefore, he the question of not giving importance to a leader like Chiranjeevi does not arise, he said.
He also said that the party would soon nominate Chiranjeevi to a prominent post. (INN)
filed in:Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Corruption, Y S Rajasekhar Reddy