YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) State coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy on Sunday hit back at former Rajya Sabha MP V Vijaya Sai Reddy over his latest criticism of the alleged coterie around party president and former Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.
In his open letter on Saturday, Sai Reddy alleged that Sajjala is the “No. 1” in the YSRCP, while Jagan has been reduced to “No. 2.”
Responding strongly, Sajjala accused Sai Reddy of deliberately targeting Jagan’s leadership and personality. He said such allegations could create misconceptions among YSRCP leaders and cadre.
Questioning Sai Reddy’s claim that the YSRCP was being controlled by a “coterie” around Jagan, Sajjala asked whether the party could have come to power in such a short period if Jagan had really been held hostage by an inner circle.
“There is only one leader in the YSRCP, and that is Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy. There is no question of No. 1 or No. 2,” Sajjala said.
He asserted that the YSRCP had no meaning without Jagan and that all other leaders, including himself, were merely party workers.
Sajjala alleged that Sai Reddy had left the YSRCP for his own reasons and was now making what he described as false allegations against Jagan in an attempt to remain in the public spotlight.
He claimed that the former MP was using criticism of Jagan and allegations about an inner circle as a way to gain publicity.
Sajjala also rejected suggestions that Jagan favoured one religious community over another, stating that the YSRCP president had equal respect for people of all religions.
He said Jagan had given Sai Reddy considerable respect and had elevated him to several important positions. According to Sajjala, the number of posts and responsibilities given to Sai Reddy itself disproved the allegation that he had been deliberately sidelined within the party.
Sajjala also questioned Sai Reddy’s claim that the party had started reducing his importance from 2020.
“If that was the case, why was he sent to the Rajya Sabha in 2022?” he asked.
He further questioned the former MP’s change of stand after leaving the YSRCP.
“While leaving the party, he cited personal reasons. Now he is making political allegations against Jagan and the YSRCP,” Sajjala said.
He said Sai Reddy was free to launch a new political party if he wished, but objected to what he described as an attempt to target Jagan and the YSRCP merely to generate publicity.
“We have so far maintained restraint and treated him as our Sai Reddy,” Sajjala said, warning that the party would be forced to respond differently if Vijaya Sai Reddy continued with the same line of criticism.
