Jagans Odarpu Yatra turns a pale show
Nellore: The Odarpu Yatra by Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy, which started 20 days ago in the district amidst much fanfare, is fast losing its steam. In the past week or so the yatra has become a lacklustre show with thin crowds at the meetings. But for the leaders and their followers from the neighbouring districts including former TTD chairman B Karunakar Reddy, trusted lieutenant of late chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, from Chittoor district and MLA Srikanth Reddy and other leaders from Kadapa, the show would have been more dull.
Political pandits were puzzled over the yatra turning into a `pale show in Nellore district despite the fact that Reddys, to whose community Jagan belongs, are dominant in the district. Surprisingly, the yatra, which went on for about 40 days in the adjoining Prakasam district where the Kammas are predominant, was a resounding success. Many feel that the reasons for the yatra losing much of its initial tempo and enthusiasm are more than one. First, the dominant groups in the district _ Anam brothers, former chief minister Nedurumalli Janardhan Reddy, Union minister Panabaka Lakshmi, Servepalli MLA A Prabhakar Reddy _ have kept away from the yatra, toeing the line of the party high command. Except for Nellore MP Mekapati Rajmohan Reddy, his brother MLA M Chandrasekhara Reddy and former MLA Nelavala Subrahmanyam, no notable leaders were taking keen interest in the conduct of the yatra.
Next, the suspension of Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, a second-rung leader, and issuance of show-cause notice to the DCC president for openly calling upon the cadres to join the yatra, just a week before the yatra commenced, had the sobered and deterred local leaders from becoming part of the yatra.
Third, and more important, Jagan, as pointed out by CPM leader Madhu, has not touched upon any of the burning issues faced by the public but confined solely to eulogising his late fathers virtues, thereby making his speeches rhetoric, if not boring. Last but not least, the torrential rains and the subsequent loss of crops which are worrying the farmers dampened the mood. According to sources, the Nellore yatra will be suspended on November 7 to enable Jagan to attend Parliament. It is not certain if the yatra will be resumed and when.
News Posted: 7 November, 2010
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