After YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy met Eenadu group chairman Ch Ramoji Rao a couple of days ago to seek the latter’s blessings for the success of his marathon padayatra commencing on November 6, the party leaders went on defensive.
Party sources say there is no political significance to Jagan meeting Ramoji and that it is just part of seeking the support of media for giving extensive coverage to his padayatra.
Apparently, Jagan’s political advisor Prashant Kishor has advised him not to distance himself from the local and national media, since media management is a crucial part of the political management.
The strategist is learnt to have told Jagan to keep meeting media heads once in a while, especially during crucial periods like his padayatra and elections, so that they would take him seriously.
“Irrespective of the political stands of the media houses, Jagan should make it a point to have close rapport with at least editors and senior reporters so that they would have some soft corner towards him,” the sources said.
YSRC sources are now saying that meeting Ramoji Rao is just a part of Jagan’s latest political strategy.
In the next few days, Jagan will be meeting senior journalists, editors and owners of various other media houses as well to dispel the rumours that Jagan had a secret understanding with Ramoji Rao.
Now, the question arises whether Jagan would meet Andhra Jyothy managing director Vemuri Radhakrishna as well. It should happen if one has to go by the version of the YSRC sources.
“Why not, we cannot deny the possibility. Jagan might meet not only Radhakrishna but also Ravi Prakash of TV9, Narendra Chowdary of NTV and B R Naidu of TV5,” sources said.
