The resignation of V Vijay Sai Reddy from the YSR Congress party and Rajya Sabha membership was not a sudden decision, but a culmination of various factors, which left him with no option, sources close to him said.
According to these sources, ever since the YSRCP lost the assembly elections by a huge and humiliating margin, Sai Reddy has been trying to prevail upon Jagan to take corrective measures and set the party in order, but all his suggestions fell on deaf ears.
Having been a founding member of the YSRCP, Sai Reddy had been aware of the ground realities, but with Jagan being surrounded by a bunch of leaders, who always tried to sideline Sai Reddy with a view to reap rich benefits from their proximity with Jagan.
What was more frustrating to Sai Reddy was the way Jagan was banking more on Indian Political Action Committee (I-PAC) headed by Rishi Raj Singh.
He strongly believed that it was Rishi who was responsible for stripping him of the regional coordinator post in north Andhra.
Though Sai Reddy was not interested in contesting the direct elections, Jagan forced him to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Nellore only on the advice of Rishi and Sai Reddy had to face the humiliation by losing the seat.
Secondly, Sai Reddy was also not happy with the way Jagan was promoting Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy in the party. As Chevireddy took control of the entire party across the state party and even the affiliated wings of the party, Sai Reddy felt sidelined.
Third reason for Sai Reddy getting disgusted with Jagan was undue importance given to another general secretary Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy and his son Bhargav Reddy, who removed all the associates of Sai Reddy from the party’s social media wing.
What is worse, Sai Reddy was shocked with the elevation of Sajjala as the state coordinator of the party.
The last and the most important development that forced Sai Reddy to quit the party was the attempt by Jagan’s close aide to fix him in the liquor scandal.
Apparently, this close aide, who is presently absconding, told the party leadership that he had given big money to Sai Reddy, while the actual beneficiaries were a former minister from Rayalaseema and his son.
“When Sai Reddy brought this to the notice of Jagan, the latter took it non-seriously. Apparently, Jagan also said he was not bothered even if Sai Reddy leaves the party and if the latter quits, the doors of the party would be permanently shut for him,” sources said.
