Congress MLAs seek return of ex-colleagues from Jagan's camp

Congress Mlas from Kadapa district Veera Shiva Reddy and Vardharajula Reddy on Monday wondered over the statement of Kadapa MP Jagan Mohan Reddy disassociating himself with the Karnataka Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy after the latter's arrest in the mining scam.

Talking to reporters at Congress Legislature Party office, Shiva Reddy said Jagan Mohan Reddy benefitted a lot with the Gali Brothers and was hand in glove with them in the illegal mining activity. However, minutes after Gali was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), Jagan distanced himself with the Gali brothers. He reminded that at the time of inauguration of Brahmani Steels, it was the same Gali Janardhan Reddy who gifted a hi-tech bus worth Rs 5 crore to the then Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

Vardharajula Reddy said Jagan's latest stance on Gali must be a lesson for all the MLAs who are supporting him. If the MLAs face any problem in future, then Jagan would not even identify them. He said the MLAs must reconsider their decision and return to Congress fold. "Jagan will distance himself and not even identity KVP Ramachandra Rao, YSR's ex-advisor, if he is named in some scam. This speaks a lot about an individual's character," he said.

The Congress Mlas ridiculed the claim of YSR Congress party spokesperson Ambati Rambabu that more than 70 MLAs would join Jagan's camp and resign to their post. They said even the 26 MLAs were regretting their decision and might quit the Jagan's camp instead of resigning from their assembly membership. They challenged that both of them would quit the Congress if even three MLAs from the existing 26 MLAs express that they willingly submitting resignation letter to the Speaker.