Former Rajya Sabha MP V Vijayasai Reddy, who left the YSR Congress Party after its election defeat, has once again drawn attention with his latest political comments.
Vijayasai, who recently announced plans to launch a new political party, said at a press meet in Vijayawada that he has no ambition to become Chief Minister.
Instead, he said that if his proposed party comes to power, he will select a capable leader from the party and make that person the Chief Minister.
Vijayasai compared his role to that of late Shiv Sena founder Bal Thackeray in Maharashtra.
He said he would prefer to remain in the background as a guiding force and choose a capable person from a different community to lead the government.
His comments have naturally created discussion in political circles, especially because the party has not yet been formally launched.
Speaking about his political plans, Vijayasai said Andhra Pradesh needs a third political alternative. Before announcing the party flag and agenda, he said he wants to explain to the people why such an alternative is necessary.
He also criticised the existing political situation in the state, saying politics is revolving around just two major forces and accusing them of promoting faction-style politics.
Vijayasai also questioned why the Chief Minister’s post should repeatedly go only to leaders from two particular communities.
“Are there no capable leaders from other communities who can become Chief Minister?” he asked.
He said that once his party wins power, he would choose a capable leader from outside those two communities and make that person Chief Minister, while he himself would guide the party from behind.
However, critics are questioning whether such promises are too early.
Political circles are joking that the situation is like deciding the child’s name even before the child is born. The party is yet to be launched, its support base is still unknown, and yet Vijayasai is already talking about who should become Chief Minister.
His announcement that the party will operate only in Andhra Pradesh has also triggered speculation about the larger political strategy behind his move.
For now, Vijayasai’s statement has certainly created buzz, but his real political strength will be known only after the new party is formally launched and begins facing the people.
