A day after his release from jail, YSR Congress president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, met party leaders and chalked out his future political plans.
Mr Reddy hinted that he would work towards the formation of a secular Third Front with like-minded parties to play a key role in national politics. He will also take up a samaikya yatra (United AP tour) across the state soon and also meet leaders of the CPI(M) and the Majlis to enlist their support for the cause.
On Wednesday, Mr Reddy had a series of meetings with party legislators and senior leaders in the party’s “core group” at his Lotus Pond residence.
When developments like the Telugu Desam Party trying to tie up with the BJP was mentioned during one of the meetings, he reportedly said, “Let us not bother about what is happening in the Telugu Desam or the Congress front. Let us stick to the principle of secularism regardless of losses or gains.”
About the allegations that his release was facilitated by the Congress high command, Mr Reddy said, “The Congress is not that strong either in the state or in other parts of the country. I feel a secular Third Front will be the best alternative and is the need of the hour; there are several parties who do not want to work with either the Congress or the BJP.”
He also mentioned Biju Janata Dal leader Naveen Patnaik, Trinamul leader Mamata Banerjee and Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav as fighting against both the Congress and the BJP.
About the ongoing bifurcation issue of the state, Mr Reddy told leaders that the party was committed towards a united AP and would agitate to keep the state united. He also hinted that he would soon take up a samaikya yatra across the state in two phases with the first phase being in the Seemandhra region.