Cong shaken, feels arrest ill-timed - TeluguPeople.com News

New Delhi: Shaken by the arrest of YSRCP leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, the Congress leadership has distanced itself from the developments late on Sunday evening.

'We have nothing to do with the arrest,' stated a senior leader, preferring not to be quoted.

Sources stated that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy made frantic calls to Congress president's political secretary Ahmed Patel, who told him that the Centre has no role to play in his arrest and they could not have prevented Jagan's arrest, given the facts that went against him.

CBI Director A P Singh said, 'Decision on the arrest is purely based on the interrogation that took place' The interrogation has been going on for three days and the decision to arrest Jagan was purely determined by the outcome of the CBI quizzing.

The Centre, which for the last few days was aware that the Jagan's interrogation would eventually lead to his arrest, is unhappy with the turn of events.

It is aware that Jagan would get all the sympathy and would eventually gain political edge over the Congress in the ensuing by-elections in the State.

For this, they are blaming Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for not doing his bit in preventing Jagan's arrest, at least till the elections, which are slated next month.

'We were already in the losing spree. But now, the Centre has made up a case where it will draw a blank in all the 18 seats going for elections,' remarked a senior Congress leader.

'There is no need for any of the state leaders to go for campaigning,' he further added, "as it will have little impact.' Sources stated that though there were no plans for the Central leaders to campaign for the by-elections.

They were, however, contemplating to campaign for the Lok Sabha seat of Nellore where T Subbirami Reddy is the candidate. Now, it will have to be seen if at least Reddy convinces AICC general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad and Union Overseas Indian Affairs Minister Vayalar Ravi to campaign for him, who were earlier all set to go to his constituency.

Going by the response given to Jagan, the Central leadership would think twice before landing in the state, where Jagan's followers would all be set to boo them.

For the Congress High Command, which was still struggling to wriggle out of the imbroglio over Telangana, the developments relating to Jaganmohan Reddy has come as a greater shock.