The Hindu : National : “Sonia knows what is good for all of us”

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“Sonia knows what is good for all of us”

Special Correspondent

It is Congress tradition to leave leadership issue to high command, says YSR’s son

HYDERABAD: Congress MP from Kadapa Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Sunday appealed to the party’s rank and file to desist from campaigning for him to get the Chief Minister’s post.

Mr. Reddy issued the four-page appeal after the ugly incidents at a condolence meeting at the Gandhi Bhavan where APCC president D. Srinivas was booed by activists who wanted him to be anointed the Chief Minister.

He said it was the tradition of the Congress to leave the leadership issue to the high command and “our beloved leader Sonia Gandhi.”

“The high command knows and more particularly Ms. Gandhi respects the public perception and feelings of lakhs of Congress workers. She knows too well what is good for all of us and what is good for our State and people,” he added.

Mr. Reddy, who is 36, recalled that it was Rajiv Gandhi who spotted talent in his father Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and it was Indira Gandhi who appointed YSR as APCC president when he was just 33. It was equally important to note that Ms. Sonia Gandhi had chosen YSR again as APCC president in 1998, as Leader of the Opposition in 1999 and as Chief Minister in 2004 and 2009.

Moving forward

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy conveyed the gratitude of his mother Vijayalakshmi, sister Sharmila and other family members to millions of people who shared their sorrow and grief in the hour of tragedy. The best tribute to the departed soul would be carrying on his legacy and making sure that all his programmes and ideologies were carried forward.

Referring to suicides committed by YSR’s supporters, he urged people to desist from such extreme actions. “We cannot lose heart and become panicky. We have to somehow summon courage and maintain calm and composure to pay our homage,” Mr. Reddy said.

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