Focus on second-rung leaders

Focus on second-rung leaders
M. Ilyas

Ongole, Aug. 28: The route map was finalised for Odarpu Yatra in Prakasam district on Saturday, amidst lack of cooperation from majority of Congress MLAs.
Starting from Giddalur on September 3, the Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, will travel about 1,395 kms, covering 295 villages, to console 40 families who lost their kin due to the death of YSR.
It is learnt that the District Congress Committee president and MLC, Mr Pothula Rama Rao, Kondepi MLA, Mr G.V. Seshu, and Parchur legislator, Dr Daggubati Venkateswar Rao, had met the Pradesh Congress Committee chief, Mr D. Srinivas, on August 27 at Hyderabad, and asserted their obedience to the high command.
Thus far, other than minister for mines and geology, Mr Balineni Srinivas Reddy, and Darsi legislator, Dr Buchepalli Sivaprasad Reddy, no MLA is ready to participate in yatra.
Meanwhile, a coordination committee comprising nine members headed by Mr Battula Brahmananda Reddy, touring villages to garner support of Congress activists and second rung leaders.
Using it as an opportunity to make a mark in the ensuing local body elections, the second rung leaders are out to support the yatra.
The movement of these secondary cadre leaders into Jagan’s camp is irking the legislators, as they have to face competition from their followers in the next local body elections, if Jagan forms a separate party after being expelled from the Congress.