Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Saturday extended an olive branch to rebel Member of Parliament Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who is facing mounting criticism due to the anti-party campaign by his TV channel.
Kiran Reddy, who is in New Delhi for discussions with the high command on the constitution of his cabinet, said it was for the party high command to decide on whether to take any disciplinary action against Jagan.
"Jaganmohan Reddy is a Congress member of Parliament. He will be treated like any other Congress MP. I take this opportunity to seek cooperation from all party MPs in the state," said Kiran Reddy.
The chief minister's remarks come on a day when senior party leader from the state and Union minister S Jaipal Reddy criticised Jagan, saying he was violating party discipline by misusing his television channel.
Replying to a volley of questions about Jagan and his recent activities, the chief minister said the Kadapa MP is the son of 'our leader' the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who spent most of his life "in the Congress family".
He parried questions on whether the Congress high command was scared of Jagan.
Y S Vivekananda Reddy, brother of the later chief minister Y S Rajsekhara Reddy, who is reportedly keen on getting a ministerial berth, claimed that Jagan will soon express regret to party chief Sonia Gandhi over his channel's attacks.
The Disciplinary Action Committee of the party headed by Defence Minister A K Antony met on Friday, but sources said Jagan was not listed on its agenda.
On his part, Jagan held consultations with his supporters in Hyderabad and a spokesman for his camp termed Jaipal Reddy's statement on Jagan as unfortunate.
Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Shakeel Ahmed said, "As per our information, this (the content telecast by the news channel) was not news but views, and people think that
when views are expressed in media then the role of management is very much clear."
Vivekananda Reddy said every Congressman was hurt by the attacks against the party top brass, which went on air on the channel, but sought to suggest that Jagan may not have been aware of this.
He said the editors of the channel should be properly advised against such telecasts. Vivekananda Reddy said Jagan cannot be held directly responsible for the content that goes on air as he is not the editor.
"I don't know what prompted the channel to telecast such a programme which had hurt the feelings of all Congressmen. It must have hurt the feelings of Jagan himself,"
he said.
The MLC said the 'phenomenal rise' of Jagan in the party after the death of his late father YSR has led to the rise of his enemies in the party, who 'have been planting' stories to the high command.
"There have been many designs against Jagan by some party leaders, especially after the Odarpu yatra, which drew thousands of people," he said.
He said the entire family of late YSR, including Jagan, will be with the Congress 'forever'.
Vivekananda Reddy also said the 'crowd puller' Jagan will play a major role in the 2014 elections and will work for the victory of the Congress.
After the telecast by the channel, the Congress high command had sought a report from the state. After receiving the report a few days back, All India Congress Committee in-charge for the state and Law Minister M Veerappa Moily termed it as a 'serious issue'.
