YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) on 30 August strongly pushed back against former parliamentarian V Vijay Sai Reddy's recent public criticism of party president and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, calling the remarks politically motivated and a deliberate attempt to deflect attention from the challenges confronting the Chandrababu Naidu-led state government.

YSRCP's Official Response

Addressing reporters at the YSRCP Central Office in Tadepalli, party State Coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy said the party had initially chosen not to respond to Sai Reddy's comments in order to avoid giving him unwarranted publicity. However, he acknowledged that continued silence risked lending credibility to what he described as baseless allegations.

Sajjala noted that Sai Reddy had resigned from the party roughly two years ago, citing personal reasons, and that Jagan had never spoken disparagingly about any leader who chose to leave. 'Jagan respected Sai Reddy for standing by him during difficult times,' Sajjala said, adding that mistaking that goodwill for personal political stature was misguided.

Allegations on Conversions and Party 'Coterie' Dismissed

Sajjala firmly rejected Sai Reddy's claims regarding religious conversions, asserting that Jagan and the YSR family had consistently respected all faiths. He pointed out that if Jagan had harboured any intent to convert people, Sai Reddy — who had been closely associated with the family for decades — would logically have been the first to be targeted, making the allegation implausible on its face.

Addressing claims of a 'coterie' controlling the party, Sajjala stressed that Jagan remains the sole decision-maker within YSRCP, and all others, including himself, function as party workers entrusted with specific responsibilities.

Sai Reddy's Former Standing Within the Party

Sajjala underscored the significant stature Sai Reddy had enjoyed within YSRCP before his exit. He pointed out that Sai Reddy was given two Rajya Sabha terms, served as Parliamentary Party leader, and held the post of National General Secretary, among other key roles. Sajjala questioned how someone accorded such prominence could credibly claim marginalisation.

Party's Organisational Posture Going Forward

Despite the 2024 electoral setback, Sajjala maintained that YSRCP remains organisationally robust and is prepared to contest upcoming local body and general elections. He urged party leaders to refrain from further public responses to Sai Reddy, arguing that engaging with criticism aimed at securing media attention or launching a new political venture would only serve as a distraction from the party's focus on public issues.

Sajjala concluded that no amount of external criticism would erode the credibility of YSRCP or diminish Jagan's political standing, signalling that the party intends to draw a line under the controversy.