YSR Congress president Jagan Mohan Reddy (file pic)
Before his mega Hyderabad rally on October 26 against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Jagan Mohan Reddy has raised the pitch. He has accused Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy of "diluting the agitation" and has written to the governor to demand that a special session of the state Assembly be called to discuss the Telangana issue.
In his attempt to project his party as the sole champion of a "United Andhra," the YSR Congress chief today accused both Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu of betraying the people of Seemandhra - the regions of coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema, which are vehemently opposed to splitting Andhra Pradesh to carve out a separate Telangana state.
The Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, alleged at a press conference today, was threatening those protesting against bifurcation to call off their strike. Mr Kiran Reddy belongs to Seemandhra, and is, along with other Congress leaders of the region, reportedly unhappy about his party leadership's decision on Telangana.
But Jagan Reddy has accused the ruling Congress of green-lighting state status for Telangana so that the region votes overwhelmingly in its favour in the approaching national election. "Why are you diluting the agitation to keep the state united," Jagan asked Kiran Reddy and Chandrababu Naidu, who he accused of "fasting in Delhi to demand bifurcation."
Tomorrow, his partymen would protest in front of the Chief Minster's home, Mr Reddy said also inviting, "everyone to join our meeting on October 26."
On that day, the YSR Congress plans a huge rally at Hyderabad's Lal Bahadur Shastri stadium, the first by any political party in Hyderabad to oppose the central government's decision to turn Telangana into India's 29th state.
It will also be the first public gathering that Mr Reddy will address since he left jail late last month. He spent more than a year in prison after being charged with corruption. The CBI's investigation against him continues and he is out on bail but is not allowed to travel out of Hyderabad.
The Andhra Pradesh High court has allowed his rally to be staged from 2 to 5 pm on that day on the condition that he will not deliver a provocative speech.