YSRCP President YS Jaganmohan Reddy kicked up yet another controversy while campaigning for the Nandyal bye-poll on Thursday.
Days after he said that there was nothing wrong if Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was 'shot', he now demanded that Naidu should be "hung, for failing to fulfil pre-election promises.”
"What one should do to a person who had stolen votes by duping people with promises and then going back on them? What is wrong in asking for Naidu’s hanging for cheating the public with false promises?” Jagan asked a gathering of voters.
Addressing a crowd at Nandyal town last week, Jagan had said, "A person like Chandrababu Naidu should be shot in public.”
Jagan's comments triggered off a massive political response in the state, as several local TDP leaders headed to their nearest police station, to file a complaint against the YSRCP chief.
Despite this, Jagan seems to be unfazed, and continued to attack Naidu, and the ruling TDP government in the state.
Jagan made the fresh comments, even as Chief Electoral Officer for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana told media persons, that he had received an explanation from the YSRCP chief for his earlier comment, and had asked the Kurnool Collector to submit his remarks on the matter.
“The issue will be examined in detail once the district collector furnishes his remarks and sent to the Election Commission of India for further action,” he was quoted as saying.
The Election Commission had issued a show cause notice to Jagan last week.
Speaking at a roadshow in Nandyal constituency on Thursday, Jagan said, "Look how rattled the TDP government is. The election in Nandyal has brought the entire government to the roads in Nandyal. If they were confident of their work, would they be here in such a hurried and worried state?"
"Naidu is dependent on power and money all the time - these are his only two assets - my principles and YSR’s good work are my resources. The vote you will cast this time are for these values," he added.
Stating that YSRCP candidate Silpa Mohan Reddy had worked for the people, he accused Naidu of assuming that "he can buy out voters of Nandyal, in the way that he bought defected MLAs.”
"These by-elections are a referendum to CM Chandrababu Naidu's despicable rule, I urge you all to stand in favour of 'dharma'. Every vote you cast, please cast it against Naidu," Jagan told voters.
Responding to Jagan's comment earlier this week, Naidu was quoted as saying, "What would you call a person who says that the CM should be shot dead, hit with slippers, threatens a Collector that he will be imprisoned and a Police Commissioner that his pension will be denied? A maniac? Jagan’s comments reflect his mental condition. The people should understand and gauge the consequences if he were made Chief Minister.”