leader of Opposition in Andhra Pradesh assembly and YSR Congress party president YS Jaganmohan Reddy has sparked off a major row by suggesting that people like the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu should be shot in public.
The emotional outburst, which has triggered strong reaction from the ruling TDP, came in an election campaign speech in Nandyal Assembly constituency in Kurnool district. The TDP and the YSRCP are locked in a fierce battle for the Assembly byelection slated for August 23.
Addressing a mammoth public meeting last evening Jaganmohan Reddy described the by election “a holy war”.
Alleging that Naidu was indulging in duplicity, double dealing and treachery Jaganmohan Reddy said, “a person like Chandrababu should be shot in public for double speak and unending deeds of corruption”.
The byelection in the faction ridden Kurnool district was necessitated by the death of a senior TDP legislator Bhuma Venkat Nagi Reddy. He was originally elected in 2014 on YSRCP ticket but later defected to the TDP. Jagan feels that the time has come for him to wrest the seat back.
He has fielded local powerful leader Shilpa Mohan Reddy as party candidate. The TDP has suffered a setback as his brother and MlC Shilpa Chakrapani Reddy resigned from the party as well as legislative Council and joined YSRCP.
Jaganmohan Reddy a no hold barred attack on Naidu questioned his political morality for encouraging defections from YSRCP. “Having caused the death of his father in law NT Rama Rao by toppling his Government Naidu doesn’t think twice before using NTR’s photos in election campaign”, he said.
Jagan’s fierce attack has evoked strong condemnation by several Minister and senior TDP leaders. One of them Buddha Venkanna said that there was a threat to Chandrababu’s life from Jagan and his political advisor Prashant Kishore.
He questioned how Jagan can talk of shooting Chandrababu after looting lakhs and crores of rupees and spending 16 months in jail.
TDP was also planning to take the matter to the election commission. Deputy Chief Minister Chinna Rajappa said, “the EC will take care of Jgan’s remarks”.
“People are getting ready to shoot the YSRCP with their ballots”, another Minister S Chandramohan Reddy said.