Azad's remarks put Congress in a fix
Hyderabad: The foot in the mouth syndrome of the AICC General Secretary and Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad has put the Congress leadership in the state as well as its cadres on the defensive at the crucial phase in the run up for the by polls.
Addressing a modest crowd on the bypass of Nellore town, he appeared to be intending to attack the YSR Congress party with measured criticism, but in a way he was found to caught between his na've tactics and the prevailing realities in the field.
He said Congress party would have made Jaganmohan Reddy, the YSRCP President, Union Minister and a Chief Minister later on, had he continued in the Congress party showing the required patience like his late father.
How the attentive crowds received his averments is not clear but the Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy and a host of leaders sharing the dais with him were in for a rude shock. Those who were watching Azad over channels were also clearly taken aback.
Sensing that attacking Jagan all the time and also veiled criticism of YSR himself was not working well for the party, the AICC General secretary seemed to have resorting to some tactical speaking by not appearing to be hostile to the YSR family.
However, apart from the Congress leaders squirming at what he said, the comments were immediately picked up by none other than Vijayamma and daughter Sharmila and even opposition leaders from TDP, BJP, TRS and the Left.
Did it mean everything would have been alright had Jagan continued in the party? All these cases of corruption have been foisted against him only because of his leaving the organization, as is being alleged by the YSRCP?
Faced with such barbs and queries Azad tried to backtrack mumbling that his perhaps his speech in urdu was not followed by the media correctly. The media only misinterpreted him.
Whether these excuses washed with the party men or not but the damage has been done, observers feel.
News Posted: 6 June, 2012
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