YSR’s son moves poll panel to register new party

NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD - Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, son of late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Wednesday stepped up the process to float a new political party by submitting an application with the Election Commission for registering the proposed outfit.

Y.V. Subba Reddy, a close associate and relative of Jaganmohan Reddy, submitted the application on his behalf at the office of the Election Commission in New Delhi.

He told reporters that the name of the new party would reflect the name YSR, the initials by which Rajasekhara Reddy was popularly known. He, however, declined to give the proposed party’s name.

“We will announce the name once the Election Commission clears it. It may take two to three weeks,” Subba Reddy said.

“YSR Congress” is likely to be the name of the party, sources close to Jaganmohan Reddy said.

A resident of Kadapa, the native district of YSR, had submitted an application to the Election Commission in November 2009 for registration of “YSR Congress Party”.

According to the application, an association was formed Sep 18, 2009 with Mahaboob Basha as the president.

However, the Commission rejected the application as it should have been made within 30 days from the date of formation of the association under Representation of the People Act, 1951.

In July last year, S. Venkataramana Reddy, also of Kadapa district, had submitted an application for registering a new political party called ‘YSR Praja Party’.

Jagan, as the former Kadapa MP is popularly known, resigned from the Congress party along with his mother Vijayalaxmi on Nov 29, accusing the party leadership of trying to divide the family by luring his uncle Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy with a ministerial berth in the Andhra Pradesh cabinet.

Jagan, who was sulking after the Congress leadership rejected his claim to chief ministership following his father’s death in a helicopter crash Sep 2, 2009, announced on Dec 7 that he would float a new party in 45 days.