HYDERABAD: For Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, his mother Vijayamma, who is the honorary president of YSR Congress Party, is undoubtedly the most valuable trump card. Never known for any fiery speeches, Vijayamma does her work silently. Even the Congress leaders who have fallen out with Jagan have high respect for her. When Vijayamma was campaigning in Kadapa by-elections in May last year, more than any one else, it was the Congress leaders who were upset over Vijayamma walking under the scorching sun on the dusty roads in Kadapa district and seeking votes. Unable to bear the sight, they took it out on Jagan, saying that he was not even sparing his mother in furthering his political ambitions.
The kind of margins that she and her son got in the by-elections were unheard of. She won the Pulivendula Assembly seat with a margin of over 81,000 votes and her son Jagan Mohan Reddy retained Kadapa Lok Sabha seat with a landslide margin of 5.45 lakh votes.
Though Vijayamma is not highly educated and had no political exposure, she used to evince keen interest in politics and the work that her husband was doing all the time. It is said that Rajiv Arogya Shri, a health insurance scheme now in force in Andhra Pradesh for the poor, was her idea. When she visited the US along with her husband after he became the chief minister, she got to know about the health insurance programme there and wanted YSR Reddy replicate the scheme across Andhra Pradesh.
On more than one occasion it has been proved that Jagan Mohan Reddy has immense faith in his mother. Recently, he was heard telling the Congress MLAs who voted in favour of the no-confidence motion against the ruling Congress that they need not worry even if they are disqualified and have to face by-elections. Jagan says, “I will send Amma to your constituencies. She will ensure your victory.”