The Congress on Monday put up a brave face in the light of rebel MP Jaganmohan Reddy’s resignation from the Lok Sabha and the party saying the party is above any individual. Union law minister and party in-charge for Andhra Pradesh Veerappa Moily termed Jagan’s decision “unfortunate and misguided” and claimed it would have
no bearing on the state government. Interacting with reporters in Parliament, Dr Moily called Jagan’s decision “unfortunate and misguided” even as he asserted that “the party is very strong there”. When asked if he would guide Jagan in the proper direction, Dr Moily replied, “I will not comment on it.”
Party spokesperson Manish Tewari, during the regular press briefing, said, “The history of the Congress has shown it umpteen times that the party is bigger than any individual. The present and future will once again prove it true. The history of the party has been testimony to the fact that individuals who have left the party have ultimately realised that the party is bigger than them.”
Though he stated that there was no threat to the Congress government, he evaded a direct reply when asked if the Congress would seek the support of the Praja Rajyam Party (PRP). He restricted himself by saying, “”I told you that there is no threat to the government.”
Mr Tewari also refused to get dragged into the controversy surrounding the allegations of Jagan against the party leadership, saying, “It is not appropriate to react to feverish imaginations. Feverish imaginations do not warrant a response.”
Mr Janardhan Dwivedi, the head of the media department of the Congress, said, “I would like to say emphatically that the Congress is greater than individuals.”