The few leaders from Congress, who continue to be with Jagan Mohan Reddy’s YSR Congress Party, are feeling the heat. With the ruling party bent on punishing even the four MLCs loyal to Jagan, these leaders feel cornered. Jupudi Prabhakara Rao, nominated MLC, is one such staunch follower of Jagan who finds himself on tenterhooks.
The dalit leader of Mala Mahanadu was encouraged by the late YSR, who made him MLC by getting him nominated through the Governor. He has been with Jagan from day one, but sources close to him say that the former Central government employee is going through financial constraints.
Jagan, as is known by now, never bothered to take care of his needs, and the MLC’s only source of income is what he gets as salary and perks in his official position. That has been barely enough, since where ever he goes, the dalits throng him and even organizing small meeting with them has become an expensive affair, his followers say.
Now with the threat of disqualification looming large, Jupudi is getting nervous. He still hopes that as Governer’s nominee, he might escape the dragnet on technical grounds. But if his disqualification becomes inevitable, the dalit leader fears that he will be left in the lurch for a long time to come.
How to sustain for another two-and-a-half years politically with no income and without Jagan’s help – not forthcoming anyway – is now the troublesome question bothering Jupudi Prabhakara Rao.
