YS Jagan: A swashbuckler politician
HYDERABAD: Normally, people born with a silver spoon in the mouth are satisfied with a business empire and a Lok Sabha membership, but rarely take further risks. However, 40-year-old YS Jagan Mohan Reddy appears to be different.
Like his father, the late YS Rajasekhara Reddy who had revolted against the then iron lady of Congress, Indira Gandhi, Jagan Reddy too exhibits a swashbuckling confidence.
After his father's tragic death, the young politician took the bull by the horns and challenged the supremacy of AICC chief Sonia Gandhi, and launched YSR Congress.
He resigned from Congress as well as LS membership, only to be reelected from Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency with a record majority of more than 5 lakh votes.
Undeterred by the CBI probe into his assets, allegedly earned during his father's regime, he launched a tirade against the ruling Congress in the state.
His fledgling YSRC bagged 15 Assembly segments and one Lok Sabha seat in the bypolls, held for 18 Assembly and one Lok Sabha seats in the state last year.
Soon after the electoral success, the YSRC leadership started poaching legislators from ruling Congress as well as the main opposition TDP.
Though Jagan has been in prison for the last one year, his party is still able to attract politicos from Congress and TDP.
In fact, when YSR was alive, very few in the state knew about Jagan. However, he has earned enormous popularity among people across the state now. YSRC leaders say Jagan's devil-may-care attitude towards the Congress high command might have made him a hero among the masses.
While his party leaders call him a messiah of masses, rivals describe him as the most corrupt politician. As for himself, Jagan Mohan Reddy appears confident that he would one day occupy the chief minister's chair, which according to him, has been snatched away from him.
News Posted: 26 May, 2013
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