On padayatra, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy may fly for hearings

Hyderabad: YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy may have to catch a flight to attend the CBI Special Court proceedings every Friday if he does not intend to reschedule his six-month padayatra starting November 2. 

The YSRC hopes to get a favourable order from the court for an exemption from personal appearance till the six-month long walkathon ends. 

Mr Reddy will embark on the padayatra from Idupulapaya of Kadapa district and reach Ichapuram on the Andhra-Odisha border in Srikakulam district covering around 3,000 km. 

Mr Reddy’s lawyers have already filed a petition in CBI court seeking exemption for him from personal appearance. “During the 2014 general election campaign, Jagan got a three-month exemption, we hope to get similar exemption this time too; if not for six months at least for two to three months,” a source close to Mr Reddy said. 

Meanwhile, the party has prepared contingency plans to ensure Mr Reddy’s appearance in court every Friday, in case the plea is rejected. 

“AP has six airports: Satyasai airport (Putaparthy), Kadapa, Tirupati, Gannavaram, Rajahmundry and Visakhapatnam. We may have to arrange private aircraft at these airports for him to reach Hyderabad every Friday,” the source said. 

“In districts like Kurnool and Guntur, especially in Palnadu areas, he may travel by road to Hyderabad. If the court permits, the padayatra will be continued without any breaks, otherwise we will have to take such weekly breaks,”  the source said. 

Mr Reddy has convened a meeting of party leaders at his Lotus Pond residence on Wednesday to fine-tune the padayatra.