For quite some time, YSR Congress Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy has been meeting party workers who, he says, have been victims of a “witch-hunt” by the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition government.
He has met the family of a deceased YSRCP worker in Sattenapalli mandal of Palnadu district, visited arrested leaders such as former MP Nandigam Suresh, former MLAs Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy and Vallabhaneni Vamsi, and former minister Kakani Goverdhan Reddy in jail.
He also called on former minister Nallapureddy Prasanna Kumar Reddy at his residence.
However, for reasons unknown, Jagan has refrained from meeting party leaders arrested in the liquor scam - including Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, P Mithun Reddy, his former officer on special duty P Krishna Mohan Reddy, former IAS officer K Dhanunjay Reddy, and his former IT advisor Raj Kesireddy.
YSRCP leaders had earlier announced that Jagan would visit Mithun Reddy, who has been lodged in Rajahmundry Central Jail, on August 5, calling it a “mega show” at Rajahmundry. But that visit never happened.
Instead, Jagan attended the wedding reception of Finance Minister Buggana Rajendranath’s son in Dhone and then travelled to Bengaluru, skipping Rajahmundry entirely.
Party members are surprised that Jagan did not meet even close associates like his former OSD Krishna Mohan Reddy, former IAS officer Dhanunjay Reddy, or Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy.
Political analysts suggest Jagan avoided meeting them to prevent sending the wrong message to the public, especially at a time when the SIT is trying to link him to the case and portray him as the ultimate beneficiary of the liquor scam.
“If he visits them, it could create the impression that Jagan is attempting to influence the arrested leaders in the liquor case,” one analyst said.
This cautious approach has sparked debate within the YSRCP, with some viewing it as a wise strategic move, while others believe it could be politically damaging.
Although Jagan publicly insists the liquor case is completely fabricated, his reluctance to meet those arrested in connection with it is raising questions within party ranks.
