YS Jagan Mohan Reddy asked to give sister lead role in Telangana

Hyderabad: YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy was non-committal on Friday, when he was asked by Telangana party leaders to en-trust responsibilities of strengthening the party in the region to his sister Sharmila Reddy. However, Mr  Jagan Mohan Reddy said the existing arrangement of party’s Khammam  MP Ponguleti Srinivasula Reddy the adhoc committee convenor will continue, and Ms Sharmila Reddy will be asked to participate in major programmes.

In a meeting of the 11-member adhoc state committee for Telangana, convened by Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy at his residence on Friday afternoon, the leaders suggested that if he is really interested in strengthening the party, it would be better for him to rope in Ms Sharmila Reddy. They complained that there were no party committees set up in Telangana for the past several months, unlike in Andhra Pradesh, and also there were no directives for them on what to do in the newly carved state to strengthen the party.

At this stage, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy intervened and told the Telangana leaders that he can ask Ms Sharmila Reddy to attend if they can plan a programme. But the leaders told him it would be better if there is a dedicated leader like Ms Sharmila Reddy to take care of the party. However, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy told them that Mr Srinivasula Reddy will continue to be in charge of  the party affairs in Telangana. He also said that instead of the adh-oc committee deciding on anything, it would be proper for him to take a decision in an extended party meeting on the leadership issue.

He later announced an extended general body meeting of the party in Telangana on October 8, which will be attended by all the candidates, who contested in the recent general elections and local body polls. Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy gave a detailed account of why the party could not do well in the general elections in AP.