Vijayasai Reddy, who has quit YSRCP and also from Rajya Sabha, now seems to have completely pushed his former party into self-defense. Though he is silent on former chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, but targeting `coterie’ around him indicates intent to damage key pillars- Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy and YV Subba Reddy.
In the beginning they believed that Vijayasai Reddy would confine to his announcement after quitting politics that he would focus on horticulture. But, now after he starts exposing corrupt practices of the previous regime, a new fear is said to be haunting Jaganmohan Reddy that ultimately he may turn approver in all cases.
It may be recalled that in all CBI and ED cases the former chief minister is facing, while he is the A1, Vijayasai Reddy is the A2. As being an auditor, key advisor in all financial transactions of Jaganmohan Reddy even before he enters politics, they fear he is aware of several corrupt practices, more than any leader in the YCP.
As a result, they are worried that if Vijayasai Reddy turns approver, Jaganmohan Reddy will definitely be directly locked up in the disproportionate assets cases. This situation seems to be putting Jaganmohan Reddy and his associates in a delicate situation.
If the party continues to give counter attacks severely, Vijayasai Reddy may be forced to come out more aggressively. Moreover, if the party keeps quiet it may send wrong signals to the people.
Since there was a risk that the situation would worsen if they responded directly, the YSRCP strategically fielded former ministers Kakani Govardhan Reddy and Gudivada Amarnath to attack Vijayasai Reddy.
However, they gave Sai Reddy a soft-spoken reply, saying that he is helping Chandrababu Naidu by farming. On the whole, the YCP is responding cautiously because it knows the potential damage that Vijayasai Reddy can do.
Still YSRCP leaders are unable to realize whether BJP is pushing Vijayasai Reddy into forefront against Jaganmohan Reddy? Or was it only out of frustration after he was marginalized in YSRCP, he is trying to show his capacities to Jaganmohan Reddy? Anyhow, Jaganmohan Reddy is seen in a confusion on how to respond to the challenge being posed by his former trusted aide, known as `No 2’ in the party.