Andhra Pradesh - Kurnool   

Political show at wedding ceremony

— Photo: U. Subramanyam

For glimpse: Former Kadapa MP Jaganmohan Reddy arriving in Kurnool to attend the marriage of Panyam MLA Katasani Rambhupal Reddy's daughter in Kurnool on Thursday.

KURNOOL: The wedding feast hosted by Panyam MLA Katasani Rambhupal Reddy turned into a political show by Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy here on Thursday with the estranged Congress leader and former MP sparing more time to greet electrified crowd and closeting with his close confidants.

Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy, accompanied by his wife Bharati, flew in by a helicopter from Kakinada to attend the reception of the daughter of Panyam MLA at Raga Mayuri Resorts on the outskirts of the city.

Mr. Katasani Rambhupal Reddy was understood to have tactfully arranged the event to signal his displeasure to the Congress high command who was deeply disappointed by denial of cabinet berth to him. Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy too grabbed the opportunity to drum up the support of Kurnool leaders for his cause.

Political stalwarts from the district like PR leader Bhuma Nagireddy, Mantralyam MLA Balanagi Reddy, A.V. Subba Reddy, Shilpa Chakrapani Reddy (brother of former minister Shilpa Mohan Reddy), Gouru Venkat Reddy, Kotla Harichakrapani Reddy (cousin of MP Kotla Jayasuryaprakasa Reddy, S.V. Mohan Reddy and a huge number of second rung leaders eagerly waited at the helipad to meet and greet Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The helipad, a few furlongs away from the wedding reception, was built to resemble a political platform with shamiana, huge convoy of vehicles and large posse of policemen, large contingent of press persons and ruling party leaders. Youth turned up in a huge number to have a glimpse of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy.

As the curious onlookers surged forward and surrounded much before the helicopter rotor wheels came to halt, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy was confined to his chopper for ten minutes before the door got opened.

At the reception platform too near stampede conditions prevailed as crowd jostled with each other to have a glimpse of Mr Reddy or shake hands. Soon after blessing with newly-wed couple, Mr. Reddy retired to a hall in the upstairs to meet important leaders who turned up there. After greeting every body and formal introduction, Mr. Reddy flew to Antantapur to attend another wedding there.

As expected earlier, the meeting between Karnataka Tourism Minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy did not place as the minister touched down half hour later by another helicopter after the departure of Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy. The meeting was believed to have been deliberately avoided to put to rest another political controversy.

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