HYDERABAD: Will the arrest of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy two weeks ahead of the crucial byelections to 18 Assembly and one Lok Sabha seat prove to be a blessing in disguise to YSRC candidates? At least they believe so, though they outwardly condemn the CBI for arresting him while in the midst of poll campaign. The byelections have been necessitated following the Speaker disqualifying 16 legislators and accepting resignation of one MLA (Shobha Nagireddy). Various surveys conducted so far have indicated that the YSR Congress has better prospects in a majority of the 18 Assembly segments, and Congress and TDP have just fighting chances in half a dozen segments. The question that is being debated in the wake of his arrest is that will it lead to a sympathy wave. Allagadda candidate Shobha Nagireddy says, “We will sweep all the seats. The people know that Jagan’s arrest is the result of a conspiracy between the Congress and the TDP.” Jagan Mohan Reddy has already toured all the constituencies that are going to byelections (except Parkal which is in Telangana) well ahead of the notification for byelections. According to sources, candidates have also been given all the required ‘assistance’ as Jagan was anticipating his arrest. He had even told them that in his absence, his mother Vijayamma will take over from where he left. YSR Congress leaders believe once Vijayamma hits the campaign trail with a picture of her late husband, with comments about what the Congress did to her son, it would build a wave of sympathy for Jagan Mohan Reddy. The Congress leaders are worried over the impact of the arrest on the prospects of its candidates. Said one former minister from Anantapur: “It will have adverse impact in constituencies like Macherla, Prathipadu, Anantapur and Railway Kodur where there is a significant population of SCs and Reddys.” The arrest of Jagan has not come as a surprise for either him or the YSR Congress since they have been expecting this to happen for more than a month and they are well prepared for the eventuality
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