Cases and arrests: Blessing in disguise for Srihari!

Till the other day, YSR Congress party general secretary (media wing) Pudi Srihari was not a public figure.

Having worked as chief public relations officer to party president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy during the latter’s tenure as the chief minister between 2019 and 2024, Srihari maintained a very low profile.

After Jagan lost power in 2024, Srihari had come into the political frame of the YSRCP and had been appointed as party general secretary in-charge of media affairs.

Yet he never came into public and had been maintaining relations only with media persons covering the party beat.

According to party sources, Srihari had been nurturing the ambition of becoming an MLA in the long-run and had been preparing the ground work for the same. But before entering the public, he has to get into the eyes of Jagan as a politician, rather than just a media person.

However, the latest cases and a series of arrests have suddenly brought Srihari into public limelight.

He was arrested thrice in connection with the alleged abusive social media posts against chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, by morphing the latter’s images.

He was arrested thrice – twice by the Kuppam police and once by the Guntur police.

Though he failed to get relief from the state high court and the Supreme Court, finally he was released on bail by the Kuppam court and later by the Guntur court.

The YSRCP leaders have made a hue and cry over Srihari’s arrest and they accused the coalition government of indulging in political vendetta against him. After he was released on bail, he suddenly got the heroic image in the party.

For the first time, Srihari addressed a press conference and alleged that the TDP-led coalition government is treating journalism as an ‘organised crime’.

He said he never set foot in a police station or court but he has been arrested multiple times within two weeks.

“I have done no wrong and therefore, have no fear,” he claimed.

Several YSRCP leaders also highlighted the contribution of Srihari to the party and condemned his repeated arrests by the police.

“Obviously, the developments gave him the image of strong political leader and who knows, it would fetch him the party ticket for an MLA seat, if Jagan acknowledges his worth,” an analyst said.