Jagan braves heat, continues yatra

REACHING OUT:Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy after unveiling the statue of his father at Palvancha in Khammam district
PALVANCHA ( Khammam dt): Undeterred by the pro-Telangana cry, blistering heat and strong gales that he encountered while criss-crossing the tribal pockets of Khammam district, Kadapa MP Y. S. Jaganmohan Reddy continued to reach out to people with his consoling message for the second day on Wednesday.
With crowds gathering in large numbers to receive him, it appeared to be more than a mere Odarpu Yatra. Though he was deliberately silent about it, the talk of partymen and loyalists accompanying him was all about future leadership. Bolstered by the response, they announced him as their hope after his father Y. S. Rakasekhara Reddy and the crowds responded with approving cheers and whistles.
Rousing welcome
His day started with paying floral tributes to B. R. Ambedkar at his statue in Palvancha thus marking his birth anniversary. He had darshan of Lord Venkateswara at an old temple in the town before proceeding to Pullaigudem to call on the family of Edavalli Srinivas, who died of stroke in the wake of the death of Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy. He struggled to control his emotions while consoling Srinivas family members. He was accorded a rousing welcome by thousands of partymen at Punukula village, a km away from the Kothagudem thermal power station (KTPS).
Patient listening
He gave a patient listening to the village people and assured them of his support for the treatment of a physically-challenged child from a poor family.
The crowds kept swelling on the roads at Palvancha as he returned for unveiling the statue of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. DCC president Vanama Venkateswara Rao and former minster Konda Surekha who addressed gathering declared that the young leader as the future of the State.
Roadshow
Minister for Cooperation R. Venkata Reddy and Government Chief Whip Bhatti Vikramarka also joined him in unveiling of the statue. Braving the sweltering heat, the crowds continued to following him. The yatra turned into a roadshow as people gathered in large numbers at every village en route to Sathupalli and forced him to stop the convoy and come out of his vehicle. He unveiled a number of statues of his father in Chandrugonda, Mulkalpali and Tekulapalli mandals.
He was greeted by large number of women at villages such as Bhaskarapuram colony, Yatakulakunta, Charlapalli and Kistaram. He visited the Harihara Kshetram at Annapureddipale and received blessings from the priests. At places he sounded apologetic for not being able to spend much time with the crowds as he had many more families to meet and console in the district as part of his hectic programme in the district.