May back UPA, won’t support ’communal’ NDA: Jagan’s mother

 

New Delhi, 12 Mar 2013 (TOI): Congress wants Jaganmohan Reddy to side with it or stay neutral in the post-poll scenario, pushing for an understanding with the rebel who is likely to be the big gainer in LokSabha and assembly polls scheduled to be held together in April 2014.

 

Congress ranks were silent after Vijayamma, Jagan’s mother who is running the fledgling outfit during his incarceration in corruption cases, on Monday said YSR Congress would never tie up with "communal BJP" but could join hands with UPA or Third Front. She also ruled out a pre-poll tie-up with Congress.

 

This appeared Jagan’s way to assure Congress following his continued stay in jail. Jagan has blamed Congress hostility for his woes, saying the mother party was angry at his rebellion.

 

Sources said the lead UPA player has been trying to persuade Jagan through emissaries for a pre-poll tie-up. A pre-poll arrangement would help the party tap the favourable sentiment in favour of Jagan that, ironically, he has generated with his rebellion against Congress. Also, that alone could check Jagan from joining hands with BJP if a situation so arises.

 

"If not pre-poll tie-up", a Jagan aide said, "Congress wants YSR Congress to stay neutral if it cannot form the government."

 

The demands are tough, a reason why there has not been a patch up despite the hope raised by presidential polls when Jagan asked his loyalist MLAs and MPs to vote for the Congress nominee.

 

Congress is desperately looking to counter the hostility in Telangana and erosion of support in Coastal and Rayalaseema regions after the death of YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

 

Congress concedes Jagan may be a big gainer in coastal and Rayalaseema that helped the party return to power in Delhi as well as Hyderabad in 2009. The party is tipped to be a major loser in Telangana where it is on the wrong side of the popular statehood sentiment. A tally of over 15-20 seats would be crucial in determining who forms the government in Delhi.

 

However, despite failure at any understanding, Congress may still end up with a handle over Jagan. Sources said the party is sure to win a decent tally in assembly while YSR Congress is unlikely to get a majority on its own. A post-poll alliance that works to the benefit of both, like it happened with NCP in Maharashtra, is thus not ruled out.