The Andhra Pradesh chief minister rejected the idea as "it was against the principles of democracy", said Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy.
Published Sep 22, 2022 | 9:05 PM ⚊ Updated Sep 22, 2022 | 9:06 PM
AP Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. (Supplied)
Ending prolonged confusion, the ruling YSRCP on Thursday, 22 September, made it clear that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy had rejected the proposal to be the party’s permanent president for a lifetime.
This comes a day after the Election Commission of India, in an order, asked the YSRCP to clarify whether Jagan was elected the permanent president of the party, as widely reported in the media.
“It was every party worker and leader’s wish to see Jagan Mohan Reddy as the permanent president for the lifetime of the YSRCP. Accordingly, such a proposal was moved during the party plenary that was held in July,” YSRCP general secretary and government advisor Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy told reporters on Thursday.
“However, the proposal was later personally rejected by Jagan as it was against the principles of democracy. That proposal didn’t go into the minutes of the plenary,” he added.
He recollected that an amendment was made to the party constitution in February, fixing the party president’s tenure at five years.
Accordingly, the election for the party president would take place every five years, which was also informed to the ECI, Reddy added.
He also said the party would respond to the ECI’s order shortly.
In an order on Wednesday, 21 September, the ECI said: “The commission categorically rejects, any attempt or even a hint of any organisational post being of permanent nature being inherently anti-democracy. [sic]”
It added: “Any action which denies the periodicity of elections is in complete violation of the extant instructions of the commission. If not categorically contradicted, it has the potential to create confusion in other political formations of such a move (which is widely reported in the press) being condoned by the Election Commission of India and in turn, can assume contagious proportions.”
The poll panel ordered the YSRCP to conclude an internal inquiry at the earliest and make a clear and categorical public announcement contradicting the news reports.
