The Congress high command’s suspending Mr Jaganmohan Reddy’s loyalist, Mr Ambati Rambabu, has expectedly irked the Jagan camp which in a sharp reaction blamed the party’s senior leaders for it. Mr Reddy said the decision was unfortunate and sad. After visiting the ailing Mr Jakkampudi Rammohan Rao, a senior leader of East Godavari district in Rajahmundry on Sunday, Mr Reddy told media persons that he was “deeply hurt and pained” by the party’s decision to suspend Mr Rambabu from the party.

“He was one among the hundreds of party leaders who joined the padayatra undertaken by my late father, Rajasekhar Reddy, covering a distance of 1,500 km, in 2003, to get the Congress back to power in the polls. Due to their efforts, the Congress retained power for the second consecutive term in the state,” Mr Reddy said.

The central Congress leadership which disapproves of the Odarpu yatra, particularly the participation of the minister, Mr Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose, and several MLAs, decided to send a stern warning to Mr Reddy by suspending Mr Rambabu from the party.

Unconfirmed reports from Delhi indicate that Mr Ahmed Patel, political secretary to the Congress president Mrs Sonia Gandhi, was angry with party affairs in-charge, Mr Veerappa Moily, who on Friday said in Hyderabad that “Jagan’s tour has nothing to do with the party and is his personal affair.” Mr Moily further announced that there will be no action taken against Mr Reddy on account of the Odarpu yatra.

Mr Moily’s statement irked the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, who had given strict instructions to ministers and MLAs not to join the Vodarpu yatra. Reliable sources told this correspondent that Mr Rosaiah spoke to Mr Patel and briefed him on the damage done by Mr Moily's statement with about 15 party MLAs leaving for Rajahmundry to join the yatra, and hailing Mr Moily for giving them the green signal.

It was under pressure from Mr Patel that Mr Moily issued orders suspending Mr Rambabu. Asked whether he considers Mr Rambabu's suspension as a warning to him, Mr Reddy forcefully said, “What is the warning? What wrong am I doing? I have the blessings of God and my late father Rajasekhara Reddy, and their blessings will be for those leaders following me on the tour.” Mr Reddy said he would take up the Rambabu issue with the Congress leadership and ensure he gets justice.