The new-found bonhomie between media baron Ch Ramoji Rao, chairman of Eenadu group and YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy has surprised many and upset many others.
In fact, the recent meeting between Ramoji and Jagan is not exactly a surprise. They had been in touch with each other discreetly.
For the first time, they were found exchanging pleasantries and chatting with each other in public at the wedding of Manchu Manoj, son of senior actor M Mohan Babu, on May 20, 2015.
After that, Jagan had met Ramoji twice at the latter’s residence in Ramoji Film City, besides greeting each other at public functions. When Ramoji fell sick and got admitted to the hospital last year, Jagan called on him and wished him speedy recovery.
What made Jagan sink his bitter enmity with Ramoji and join hands with him? Definitely, there is some force behind it.
According to highly placed sources, it was neither a Kamma nor a Reddy who brokered the deal between the two, but a Velama industrialist – Jupalli Rameshwar Rao of My Home group.
He was the same man who created a bonhomie between Ramoji Rao and Telangana chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as well.
Sources said right from the beginning Rameshwar Rao has close relations with Y S Rajasekhar Reddy family and during the latter’s regime, he got immensely benefitted.
It was because of his close links with YSR that he was targeted specifically by the Kiran Kumar Reddy government in the Rayadurgam land deal.
Using his relations with YSR family, Rameshwar Rao brought Jagan and Ramoji together and made them sink the differences.
Even during the visit of Jagan to the residence of Ramoji a couple of days ago, Rameshwara Rao accompanied Jagan along with Bhumana Karunakar Reddy, but ensured that his name did not come out, sources said.
