It may appear that the Congress high command has come under pressure to take action against Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy’s camp followers in the light of many legislators and past and present ministers coming openly in support of Jagan. It was thought initially that no action would be taken, and that they would wait until Jagan runs out of steam. In the recent days, however, with the kind of obscene, intemparate language used by Amabati Rambabu, who seemed to have been emboldened by the high command’s inaction, some disciplinary action was probably warranted. That the high command stooped to suspend an insignificant pawn may be seen as a weakness rather than a strength.
It may seem that the high command’s hand is forced to serve an ace, which was thought to be unnecessary in the beginning. But there is a larger game underway here. The snub is not directed at Jagan and his followers so much as it is aimed at Mr Veerappa Moily. Mr Moily jumped the gun on an earlier occasion and gave his blessings to the Odarpu Yatra of the Kadapa MP. The high command soon made him eat his words. Day before yesterday, he came out with a statement to the press that no action will be taken against the dissidents. That was uncalled for. It was a decision internal to the party high command: there was no need to cry from the rooftop. And making Mr Moily suspend Ambati was a snub to Mr Moily himself, rather than to Ambati or Jagan. It is speculated that some action against Mr Moily himself may be initiated in the days to come, like perhaps discharging him of the responsibility of AP affairs. What he meant when he said that he didn’t know that Ambati is a Jagan follower is subject to interpretation. Would he not have acted if he knew? He is asking for trouble. When push comes to shove, he may be ousted along with Jagan (sahendra takshakaya swaha).
On the other hand, Jagan seems to have learnt to control his passion and emotions: that is a good thing. If he continues to attract crowds, by hook or crook, and builds up on his father’s legacy, there is surely room at the top, come 2014 elections. A mass leader is always welcome in the Congress party, if he or she is loyal to the high command in the first place. It is nobody’s case that Jagan should be totally ignored in the reckoning for the top job when it falls vacant. What the high command wants from him is precisely the kind of temperance and patience he is now showing. In the last two weeks, Jagan has displayed his political acumen by blowing hot and blowing cold, and showing that he is a master of his emotions.
One must comment on Jagan’s followers who say that the high command is putting them in a fix, in not taking action against Jagan. They imply that they would ditch him if explicit orders are given. The high command rightly puts the ball in their court: You decide which side you are on. If you want to go with Jagan, it is your personal decision. The high command is not going to tell all and sundry that they should not take part in the yatra. In Hindi, there is a saying: akalmand ko ishara kafi (A gesture/signal is enough for the intelligent guy.) That has been the credo of the Congress high command from the days of Mrs Gandhi Sr. One finds it strange that after a clear signal, in fact instruction, has been given at the highest level, they still claim that there are mixed signals and that they are torn asunder between sympathy for Jagan and loyalty to the party.
In the final analysis, by suspending Ambati, naming his comments on Mr K Rosaiah as the reason for it, the high command did maintain a distinction between Jagan and others. The high command is showing deference to the late Y S R’s memory in pardoning Jagan. Anyway now, the number of Jagan followers should dwindle. For those who are still recalcitrant, there is always the weapon of ‘disproportionate assets’, which could be used against Jagan himself if necessary. We said earlier that Jagan should watch his every step and every word. It is still the case. He may get over the business of Ambati’s suspension for now, but the high command has at least a dozen aces up its sleeve – in the form of legislators and ministers who are openly siding with Jagan.
Bottomline: Each of the coming weeks can unfold a suspension or show-cause notice. And Jagan has to eat humble pie each time.
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