Vijayasai Reddy quits politics, to resign from RS; Jagan loses his oldest confidant

that he “will not join any political party” and will focus on agriculture.

The veteran leader will resign as MP Saturday (January 25), the post on X stated. He is also the party’s floor leader in the RS.

“I will not resign in the hope of another position, benefits, or money. This decision is completely my personal one. There was no pressure. I am indebted to the YS family, who have believed in and supported me for four decades and three generations… I am forever grateful to Jagan garu for giving me the opportunity to be a Rajya Sabha member twice, and to Bharatamma garu for taking me to such a high level. I wish Jagan garu all the best,” Reddy’s post on X read.

Among the oldest confidants of former CM and YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, the exit is seen as a blow for the party.

It comes only weeks after the ED summoned Reddy for questioning for allegedly forcing the owners of private Kakinada SeaPorts to sell their shares at a throw away price. According to an SIT set up by the TDP-led government, the share sale was forced to favour Jagan.

The ED caught on to the case and ordered Reddy to appear before its officers a few weeks ago. Meanwhile, rumours emerged Reddy would join BJP. However, a YSRCP source had then rejected the claims. “There is no way by which Vijayasai Reddy will join any other party. He is a member of the YS family,” the source had told The Indian Express.

However, on Friday, the same source termed Reddy’s exit a “surprise”. “We are not sure why he has taken this drastic step,” the source said.  Reddy’s association with Jagan’s family traces back to when his father Y S Rajashekara Reddy was in power. Vijayasai was the party’s bookkeeper then.

“He was instrumental in keeping the party funds afloat,” said a YSRCP insider. However, with the death of YSR in 2009, Reddy shifted his allegiance to Jagan who was yet to join a political party. This was when several senior Congress leaders had supported the party in forming a government without Jagan’s support.

“He was one of the people who stuck by Jagan even when he was in prison over disproportionate assets cases,” a YSRCP source said.

Sources told The Indian Express he got an “offer to join BJP” some months ago. “He got enough opportunities to join BJP but he refused,” a source close to Reddy said. Vijayasai was unavailable for comment.