
VIJAYAWADA: In a major setback to the YSRCP, party Rajya Sabha MP V Vijayasai Reddy has announced his decision to quit active politics. “I am retiring from politics. I will resign from Rajya Sabha membership tomorrow, 25 Jan, 2025,” Vijayasai posted on ‘X’ on Friday.
At a time when YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is away in the UK, Vijayasai, who is the national general secretary, and the party floor leader in the Rajya Sabha, took the shocking decision.
Vijayasai sailed with Jagan during the latter’s tough times, and also went to jail along with him, and he is still accused No. 2 in most of the cases pertaining to disproportionate assets, in which Jagan is A1.
In fact, Vijayasai enjoyed a good clout in the party, and was positioned next to Jagan for a few years after the formation of the YSRCP government in the State. However, for reasons unknown, his grip over the party affairs weakened gradually.
Making it clear that he is not joining any other political party, Vijayasai said his resignation is not to attain any post/position, benefit, or monetary gain. “This decision is entirely personal. There is no pressure, or coercion or undue influence on me,” he asserted.
Vijayasai thanks PM Modi & HM Shah for support
“I will forever be indebted to the YS family, which has supported me for four decades and across three generations. I will always be grateful to YS Jagan Garu for giving me the opportunity to serve as a Rajya Sabha member twice, and in particular to Bharatamma Garu, who helped me reach new heights in the political arena. I pray to God to bless Jagan Garu with good health, immense success, everlasting happiness and a bright future,” Vijayasai stated in the post.
Mentioning that he made relentless efforts with sincerity and without any compromise for the benefit of the party, and Andhra Pradesh in his capacity as the leader of the parliamentary party, floor leader in the Rajya Sabha and YSRCP national general secretary, he said, “I have served as a bridge between the Centre and the State to maintain cordial relations, and get maximum benefits for AP.”
Thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he said the support of both the leaders over the past nine years has given him strength and recognition in the Telugu States.
“Except political differences with the TDP, I do not have any personal issues with TDP supremo N Chandrababu Naidu and his family. I have friendship with JSP chief Pawan Kalyan,” he said.
Revealing that now his focus will be on agriculture, Vijayasai thanked the people of the State, his friends, colleagues, party workers, and everyone who supported him throughout his long political journey. “I am grateful to each one of you,” he concluded.
Reacting to Vijayasai’s decision to quit active politics, YSRCP Nellore district president Kakani Govardhan Reddy described him as a leader committed to the party.
“However, I am not aware of the reasons for the sudden decision taken by Vijayasai,” he said.
Mentioning the alleged threats, looting, atrocities and all sins committed by Vijayasai when the YSRCP was in power, the TDP leaders said he cannot escape from all his wrongdoings just by announcing retirement from politics.
Taking to ‘X’, TDP MLA Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy said Vijayasai’s decision to quit politics after committing all the sins surprised him.
Taking a dig at the statement of Vijayasai that his future is agriculture, Somireddy sought to know whether the former take up cultivation with the looted black money.
Observing that fear of facing cases for all his sins is clear in Vijayasai, Somireddy also wanted to know whether the decision was taken to protect himself and his son-in-law’s company Aurobindo.
Another TDP leader Chintakayala Vijay said they would not forget Vijayasai’s harsh language to criticise the TDP through his social media posts in the name of #Sai Raa punch. “You (Sai) may quit politics, but, we will not leave you until getting punished for all your wrongdoings,” the TDP leader posted on X.