Hyderabad, Apr 6: Making a head-start, YSR Congress party President Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and his mother Y S Vijayalakshmi today separately launched their campaign for the May 8 by-elections for Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly seats in Andhra Pradesh.
Vijayalakshmi and Jagan, along with other members of the family, paid homage to late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy at his grave in Rajiv Knowledge Valley, Kadapa, before kick-starting their election campaign.
Addressing a gathering after unveiling his party flag at Mylavaram, Jagan, a former MP, said the by-elections would usher-in significant changes in Andhra Pradesh politics. "The by-polls are a fight between the late YSR's legacy and the Congress high command."
At Parnepalli in Pulivendula constituency, which is part of Kadapa Lok Sabha seat, Vijayalakshmi went on a door-to-door campaign seeking votes for her. Jagan's wife Bharati too began a door-to-door campaign in Tonduru mandal on behalf of her mother-in-law.
While Jagan will file his nomination papers for the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat on April 15, Vijayalakshmi will complete the formality the next day.
The by-elections are being held as the mother and the son quit their respective posts as well as the Congress in November last alleging that the Sonia Gandhi-led party not only humiliated their family but also caused a split in it.
Meanwhile, the ruling Congress' woes in finding a suitable match for Jagan in Kadapa seemed unending. Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy held wide-ranging consultations with party leaders from Kadapa last night and followed it up with yet another round this morning. PTI
