PCC chief weans another MLA from Jagans hold

HYDERABAD: PCC president Botcha Satyanarayana has begun making serious attempts to wean away the Congress MLAs sailing along with YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy.The latest to tell the PCC president about the disillusionment in the J camp was Patil Neeraja Reddy, MLA from Aluru in Kurnool district.She called on Satyanarayana on Tuesday and conveyed her wish to stay in the Congress.Dharmana Krishna Das, legislator from Srikakulam and hardcore supporter of Jagan, took everyone by surprise by making an appearance at the swearing-in by Satyanaryana as PCC chief at Gandhi Bhavan on Saturday.Das is the brother of minister Dharmana Prasada Rao.Ever since Botch took over, he has been keeping a watchful eye on legislators owing allegiance to Jagan and has opened lines of communication with those who found out that all that glittered was not gold. The result was Patil Neeraja Reddy’s visit to Gandhi Bhavan on Tuesday and assurance to him of her support in making the party stronger in Kurnool district.According to sources, those who are known as outand- out supporters of Jagan Mohan Reddy were conspicuous by their absence at the statewide protest programme, Saagu Poru, organised by Jaganmohan Reddy on Monday. Except Konda Surekha in Warangal, not many pro-Jagan MLAs who are considered to number about 20 to 25, turned out at the district collectors’ offices.According to sources, many MLAs are sore with Jagan for not giving them a firm commitment that in the event of disqualification, he would field them as YSR Congress nominees and take the responsibility of their election.Sensing the opportunity, Satyanarayana appears intent on striking the iron while it is hot and rush disqualification of the four MLAs against whom petitions are pending with the Speaker. The PCC president is under the impression that if the four MLAs are disqualified, other legislators in the J camp will fall in line.According to sources, already signals have been sent to the MLAs that it will be better if they come back to the Congress fold and they will be risking their political career if they stay on in the Jagan camp.