Congress Rebel Jagan quits Cong over ?humiliation?

Hyderabad : Rebel Andhra Pradesh MP Jaganmohan Reddy, on Monday quit the Congress party and resigned from his Lok Sabha membership, evoking angry reactions against the Congress from his supporters while the party claimed Jagan?s move will not effect its fortunes.

Jagan, son of former Andhra Pradesh chief minister YSR Reddy, faxed his resignation from the Lok Sabha to Speaker Meira Kumar, while he dashed off a five-page open letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi on why he was quitting the party.

His mother, Vijayamma, also announced resigning from the Pulivendula state Assembly constituency, from where she was elected in a bye-poll after her husband?s death in a helicopter crash in 2009.

Jagan is reportedly preparing float a regional party ? YSR (Youth Sramik Ryot) Congress ? from his home constituency Kadapa soon, reports said.

Quitting the Congress, Jagan told party president Sonia Gandhi that a conspiracy was being hatched against him.

?I am writing this letter to you with a very heavy heart and deep anguish. I have been suffering humiliation in silence during the last 14 months. A malicious campaign was being unleashed against me, my family and lastly, against my late father and a great leader of masses Dr.Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy,? Jagan said, referring to Gandhi, in his open resignation letter.

Jagan said he was ?shocked? at the ?murky and disgusting politics? being played at his back.

He claimed that he enjoyed the support of 150 MLAs after the demise of his father, but supported A Rosaiah for the chief minister?s post on Gandhi?s instructions and has also been cooperating with Kiran Kumar Reddy, who last week took over the chief minister?s job.

Questioning the Congress chief whether his Odarpu Yatra was the cause for the party allegedly humiliating him, Jagan said he had repeatedly informed Gandhi that it was his personal programme and it was his duty and responsibility as the son of the departed leader.

In his resignation letter, Jagan told Gandhi that he would appeal to his supporters not to resign with him and bring the AP government down.

Jagan had angered the Congress high command with his defiance and of late even used his TV channel, Sakshi, to target leaders like Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi.

The channel, owned by Jagan, raised the hackles of the party leadership by targeting Gandhi family members and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

The 38-year-old scion of YSR had been aspiring to become the CM, and the increasing isolation from the party reportedly pushed him into breaking away from Congress.

The son of YSR became desperate with central Congress leaders after Kiran Kumar Reddy was appointed the new chief minister of Andhra Pradesh last week after K Rosaiah stepped down unexpectedly citing health reasons.

The Congress, however, appeared nonchalant with Jagan?s announcements.

Union Law minister Veerappa Moily, who is the party in-charge of the state, claimed that Reddy?s resignation will have no effect on the Congress in Andhra.

Terming the move ?most unfortunate and misguided?, Moily asserted that it will have no impact on the ruling Congress in the state.

?I don?t want to comment on anything else,? he said, refusing to elaborate on what could have led Jagan to leave the party.

Congress Rajya Sabha MP from the state V Hanumantha Rao also claimed that Jagan?s move cannot alter the party?s rising fortunes in Andhra Pradesh.

He maintained that the Congress have given ample room to Jagan and claimed that the young MP had no future outside the Congress.

Meanwhile, Jagan supporters in several places, including his constituency Kadapa, damaged party property and burnt banners carrying Congress chief Sonia Gandhi?s pictures.

They also took out protest rallies in several parts.