Jagan's resignation won't affect Congress: Moily

Union Minister M Veerappa Moily on Monday termed as "most unfortunate and misguided" Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's decision to resign from Congress and the Lok Sabha but said it would have no effect on the party in Andhra Pradesh.

"The decision is most unfortunate and misguided," Moily, who is also All India Congress Committee in-charge of Andhra Pradesh, told mediapersons outside Parliament.

He made the remarks when asked about the decision of Jaganmohan, son of former chief minster Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, and his mother Vijayamma to resign from the party.

Asked whether the development will weaken the party, Moily remarked that "the party is very strong there". Moily said he had not yet received Jaganmohan's resignation. The minister laughed off questions whether he would guide Jaganmohan in the right direction.

"I will not comment on it," he said. Senior Congress leader V Hanumantha Rao also said that the party will not be affected by his resignation.

"It was his own decision. The high command had given him a long rope. He himself wanted to go. What can we do," he said.

On whether other Congress leaders could follow Jaganmohan, Rao said, "Nobody will go, barring a few loyalists."

Rao, who is the convenor of AICC's SC/ST cell, said that those who will follow Jaganmohan will return to the party later. "May be three or four leaders will resign and follow him. That also I doubt. They will return to Congress," Rao said.

Jaganmohan, 37, represents Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency.