140 of the 156 Congress MLAs in the Andhra Pradesh legislature may have backed his candidature in the aftermath of the death of his father, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, but the Congress high command has dealt with the demand to make YSR’s son Jagan Mohan Reddy Andhra’s next chief minister in trademark Congress style.
It has listened. It has prevaricated. It has sent confusing signals. It has appointed a stopgap. It has met the man said to be spearheading the campaign. It has held out alternate posts. And it is hoping the “emotional” pitch will simmer down in due course of time.
But Jagan Mohan Reddy, who runs a large media empire comprising a multi-edition newspaper Sakshi, and India’s first high-definition TV channel, Sakshi TV, is not the soft, subservient, self-effacing Congressman of yore.
Even as the party weighs the pros and cons of ignoring his claims, a full-throated campaign has been mounted on Sakshi TV projecting The Next Leader, complete with lyrics and music, and it is breathtaking for its sheer audacity of taking on the high command, and for the use, abuse and misuse of the media for self-glorification.
Looking at the imagery, it is even possible to forget that Jagan Mohan Reddy is but six months old as an MP.
Also read: What if we had hunted for Veerappan like we did YSR?
churumuri 
I wonder what is better for democracy – letting someone who enjoys backing of 140 out of 156 MLAs (lets forget that that will perpetuate dynastic politics) or letting one dynasty at the center prevent another dynasty taking centerstage in a state.
Will we ever see a 3rd alternative in the country where there are actually “elections” held to elect a leader of the legislative constituency – a formal process with nominations, secret ballots, et al. Interesting then to see how many people will vote for whom in such situations. If MLAs and MPs can be elected in this way why not CMs and PMs.
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Jagan’s men are all over and campaign is (well paid) orchestrated. Here’s what happened in Bangalore – 560 kms from Hyderabad. When Madam Sonia landed in Bangalore enroute to Mysore..there were dozens of make- Jagan-the-CM placard holders vying for Diva’s attention.
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But he will travel economy class. Because helicopters have the habit of doing what the long arm of law can’t.
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Almost every third MP in congress is in politics because they are genetically pre-disposed to be in politics.
Jagan Reddy is the perfect congress candidate and would set another appropriate precedent for the all the other dynasties lined up in the party including the transition of Crown Prince Rahul.
Congress is dilly-dallying to make it look like they are trying to be democratic.
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I am sure about what will happen.
He will be made some Central minister. The Central minister whom he will replace will be made Governor of some state and someone else will be made the Chief Minister , because Mr Jagan is taking on the high command and Madam won’t budge to such tactics. What could also happen is some small controversy involving Jagan might be cropped by the Congressmen themselves to prevent him from becoming Chief Minister.
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12 lakhs to 200 crores earning in just a few years….Well, this new Reddy Garu will match the Illegal Iron Ore Bellary Garus pretty soon, indeed.
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Very nice point by Yella OK
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Have all the people forgotten that this Reddy is the partner of Karnataka ruling Reddys!?
Even respectable weeklies writing about Obulapuram Mining Co., ignore mentioning Jagan Reddy, who though denies having a stake in it, actively supports it and how the state boundaries have been tinkered with to benefit the company and other acts of these mine barons are quite well known.
It seems like, M/s Bhanutej, Sugata Srinivasaraju et al., are more keen on damning only the BJP, though their articles are welcome and true, the deliberate exclusion of congress and its leaders from the whole issue is very intriguing, for their role is considerable!
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It is the case of Devils children having Devils luck. Jagan if the Congress High Command cheats you out of the post of CM assert your dynastic rule and the party has to fall in line. You can even approach the Supreme Court if you wish for there are certain unwritten laws but has the same force as common law and you will win hands down
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