Is Jana jumping ship?

Cracks are surfacing in the Telangana Congress with the role of CLP leader K Jana Reddy vis-a-vis the TRS leadership, especially in the wake of the ongoing conflict between Telangana and Andhra Pradesh States in the wake of the cash-for-vote scam.

• He opposes unsavoury remarks against TRS
• He even chides Bhatti for strong retort to KCR
• Leaders point to his soft stance towards govt

Many an eyebrow has been raised in the TS Congress circles over the “nonchalant attitude” being adopted of late by Jana Reddy towards the TRS leadership. As a matter of fact, deep suspicions seem to have started growing among the party leaders after the role of Jana Reddy during the last Assembly session.

Leave alone failing to take head on the TRS leadership and the government on various issues, Reddy tried to rein in his party members from adopting any offensive posture. This also triggered off speculations that he was waiting in the wings to jump ship.

Against this backdrop, Jana Reddy taking an affront to the tone and tenor of party leaders against Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has not only caused heartburn among the party leaders leading to dissentions surfacing in the TS Congress.

This was very much evident after Jana Reddy and the TPCC Working President Bhatti Vikramarka openly sparred over the remarks made by the latter against KCR. At a meeting of TS Congress leaders on Friday Jana expressed his displeasure over party leaders’ unsavory remarks against KCR.

When the Congress party is opposed to usage of any disrespectful language by any political party or leader it would be unbecoming of Congress leaders resorting to such usage, he observed and quipped, “let us practise before we preach.”

Since Jana Reddy’s ire seemed to have been directed against the TPCC Working President, who on Thursday used a certain word against KCR to belittle him, Bhatti retorted that he had to respond in a tit-for-tat manner to KCR who used a language unbecoming of a CM. This open confrontation between two senior leaders has stunned the T Congress circles.

What has come as a big surprise and jolt to the TS Congress leaders was the observation of Jana Reddy that it was not a good augury for each and every one to express their personal views on the controversy surrounding the demand for revocation of Section 8 of the AP Reorganization Act.

A clear clarity on the Section had yet to come and it was the Centre and the Governor who should come out with necessary clarifications, he maintained. Jana further opined there was no threat to the life and properties of Andhra people in Hyderabad. The case relating to the alleged luring of MLAs with lucre was under the purview of the State government.

As regards the defection of MLAs, the matter was pending with the Assembly Speaker and cases were also pending in the courts. Hence, he was not prepared to make comments or give his opinion frequently on these issues, he made it clear to the utter shock of party leaders. (NSS)