KVP & Co fail to lure Jagan MLAs

HYDERABAD: Hectic politicking unfolded in the assembly on Monday hours before the Kiran government faced the no-confidence motion. A worried Congress leadership rushed MPs Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, Killi Krupa Rani and MLC D Srinivas, besides Rajya Sabha member K V P Ramachandra Rao to woo the MLAs sailing with Jaganmohan Reddy.
There were ministers, MLAs and others trying to wean away Jagan camp MLAs from supporting the motion but in vain.
Sitting in the ministers’ chambers, KVP spoke to five Jagan loyalist MLAs and tried to pursuade them to support the government. Dharmana Krishnadas, Kapu Ramachandra Reddy, Prasada Raju, Bala Raju and Gurunatha Reddy held long discussions with KVP who told them that he would take personal responsibility to sort out their concerns and also use his good offices with the high command and ensure that they get good positions in the coming days. But except one or two, the other MLAs from Jagan camp did not give any assurance to KVP, who sat along with Kavuri to convince them.
“I respect KVP and Kavuri as seniors in the party and that’s why I came here to meet them. But I am not going to oblige them,” Krishnadas told TOI after the meeting.
Ministers Erasu Pratapa Reddy, S Sailajanath and MLA Veera Siva Reddy tried to convince Puthalapattu Ravi, Srikanth Reddy and B Srinivasulu who refused to change their stand and said they would support the no-confidence motion. Chittoor MLA C K Babu’s hour-long efforts to convince P Ravi to vote for the government proved futile as the latter said he could not change his stand this juncture.
Ministers Vatti Vasanth Kumar called MLA Bala Raju to his chamber and arranged a meeting with KVP. Even after discussing for more than one hour, Bala Raju did not give any assurance to the minister and the MP. So much so, the ruling party leaders used other party leaders to invite the Jagan loyalist MLAs to talks. TDP, PRP and TRS members were seen obliging requests made by Congress leaders to take out pro-Jagan MLAs to the lobbies where they tried to talk it out with the latter.
Even during the lunch break, the ruling party leaders left no stone unturned as they promised `goodies’ including nominated posts, transfer of police officials, revenue and municipal officers, postings to officers of their choice and sanction of works worth lakhs of rupees to the Jagan loyalist MLAs. But at the end of the day, not many from the pro-Jagan camp yielded to the pressure tactics.
“We are ready to face the elections. Our leader Jagan has told us that he would take care of our problems in our constituencies. How can we go back now?” pointed out Amaranatha Reddy, MLA from Rajampet.
When the Congress seniors questioned him as to why he wanted to sail with Jagan when his constituency does not fall under Kadapa segment, he replied that he owes his political career to YSR and he would always support Jagan.