Murky politics over Bhuma’s death

​Velagapudi: The ruling TDP and the YSRC, the principal Opposition, failed to demonstrate decency and solemnity at times of grief like the occasion of death of Nandyal MLA Bhuma Nagi Reddy.

The developments that took place in the run-up to the funeral on Monday and a debate on condolence motion in the Assembly on Tuesday served a classic case for declining standards in the polity of late. Both the parties vied to score over each other by cashing in on sympathy generated over the sudden demise of the senior legislator.

The YSRC led by Leader of Opposition YS Jaganmohan Reddy stayed away from the discussion on the condolence motion in a bid to save itself from embarrassment in the sensitive matter even as the TDP was at its best to fix the former.

Akhila Priya, legislator from Allagadda and daughter of the deceased MLA, was presented by the ruling party in the House hardly a day after her father’s funerals. In an emotion-choked voice, she vowed to follow in the footprints of her father to realize his dreams.

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and several members from the treasury benches berated Jagan for his `inhuman’ nature which he allegedly exposed at the hour of grief by staying away from the session. Recalled how he broke the political barriers to pay homage to Jagan’s father and Congress former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy who was killed in a copter crash, Naidu accused Jagan of exhibiting a similar spirit now.

The YSRC leader, talking to the media, said it’s unfair on the part of the CM to blame him for his inability to take part in the session on condolence motion. He said he was the first leader to express his deep sympathies to the Reddy’s bereaved family members soon after the death. In fact, Jagan seemed to have found himself ill at ease over his joining in the debate which centered around the praise of virtues of Nagi Reddy, which is common in the case of any departed leader.

Nagi Reddy was elected on the YSTC ticket and defected to the TDP. The YSRC pitched for disqualification of all the 24 defectors from his party, including Nagi Reddy and that Jagan wanted to send a right message across his party rank and file by not taking part in the condolence session, it is said.

Within a few hours after Nagi Reddy’s death, leaders with YSRC leanings while taking part in TV live shows blamed CM for the former’s death by failing to keep his promise for a ministry for Reddy. The `broken promise’ resulted in a lot of stress leading to his death, they contended.

Even as the people in his constituency were not yet recovered from the shock over loss of their leader, the two parties made way for a debate over the byelection and the probable candidates in Nandyal. Jagan made it clear that his party will field a candidate in a striking departure from the usual convention of letting the election be unopposed in case of death of sitting legislator.

In fact, Nagi Reddy was elected from our party. Therefore, technically it is our seat regardless of his defection to TDP and we obviously want to get it back into our kitty”, he declared. He strongly criticized the TDP for claiming the Bhuma’s legacy `unethically’.

Meanwhile, the visit of TDP general secretary Lokesh to Allagadda to console the Reddy’s family members triggered a discussion over the latter’s successor in Nandyal. The TDP leadership is said to be engrossed in discussions over selecting either the candidature of Mounika Priya, younger daughter of Nagi Reddy or his elder brother’s son Sekhar Reddy in the byelection.