Congress hijacks Jagan's strategy in AP

Seeking to take the wind out of defiant Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's sails, Congress on Monday announced Rs 1 lakh each to the families of those who committed suicide in the wake of the death of then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and his father Y S Rajasekhar Reddy.

The announcement was made by All India Congress Committe in charge of Andhra Pradesh M Veerappa Moily, a few days before Jagan planned to take out a yatra from Prakasam district of the state in defiance of the party high command.

"The Congress president has directed AICC to pay a sum of Rs 1 lakh each to the bereaved families. The disbursement of money will be done after the concerned Congress MPs and DCC presidents have congregation in their respective districts," he said.

Noting that AICC acknowledges the contribution of late YSR to the party and his 'great commitment' towards the people of Andhra Pradesh, he said the Congress 'pays tributes to the departed soul on the eve of the commemoration of his first death anniversary.'

He said the Congress president had earlier instructed the AICC to provide necessary relief to family members of those persons who have committed suicide on the demise of YSR.

The announcement came even as a defiant Jagan is all set to kick off the third phase of his controversial 'Odarpu' yatra that could further shrink his support base among his lawmaker colleagues who are now toeing the party line.

Jagan, who has completed two spells of the yatra in several parts of the state despite party chief Sonia Gandhi advising against it, will address a rally in the temple town of Tirupati on September 2 on the occasion of the first death anniversary of his father Rajasekhara Reddy.

The next day, he will resume the yatra to console the relatives of those who either allegedly committed suicide or died of shock after the hearing the news of the death of his father in Prakasam district.

The party does not subscribe to Jagan's assertion that it is a "personal" trip as it feels the tour has all the political overtones. But Jagan's camp denies that the party has told the MPs and MLAs not to participate in the yatra and maintains that it is a personal tour.

Only last week, senior leader Pranab Mukherjee had warned Jagan of disciplinary action if he goes ahead with the yatra.

A meeting of the Disciplinary Action Committee of the party scheduled tonight was cancelled at the last minute and Moily came out with the statement regarding the relief from the AICC.