Jagan's absence YSRCP's biggest challenge now

                                                                               

The fledgling YSR Congress Party faces its biggest challenge since its formation as it has to factor in the absence of its president Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy and place full faith and confidence in his mother Ms. Vijayamma in spearheading the party's by-election campaign.

Vijayamma to lead

Although it was fully prepared for the eventuality, the Jagan-centric party was confounded when realisation dawned after the Kadapa MP's arrest that he would no longer be available for electioneering. But, it recovered soon and, in a dramatic manner, declared that his mother would lead the campaign for 12 days.

Political novice

A heavy burden is cast on Ms. Vijayamma, clearly a political novice, to ensure that her party candidates win the elections. But, party leaders are clear that her message would be straight and simple – exposing the ‘conspiracy' behind jailing her son and continued victimisation of late YSR's family.

According to the script prepared by party leaders, she would question CBI's urgency to summon him for interrogation on May 25, when it had not bothered do so for the last 280 days. As she has already stated, she would highlight the hidden agenda behind the move – to keep her son away from the campaign so that the Congress and TDP derive an unfair advantage.

Emotive appeal

She would make an emotive appeal expressing doubts over the accidental death of her husband in the helicopter crash. She may not spare AICC president Sonia Gandhi for trying to target her family.

On the other hand, the Congress leaders are sceptical whether she could step into the shoes of Mr. Jagan and campaign as vigorously. They are also hopeful that the sympathy generated by her dharna outside the Dilkusha Guest House on Sunday might peter out by the time the polling is held on June 12
from Hindu