After appearing before CID officials regarding the Kakinada Port and SEZ scam, Vijayasai Reddy claimed a coterie around Jagan Mohan Reddy blocked his advice, which led to his departure from the party
Published Mar 13, 2025 | 12:15 AM ⚊ Updated Mar 13, 2025 | 12:15 AM
Vijayasai Reddy(@VSReddy_MP on X)
Synopsis: Former YSRC MP V Vijayasai Reddy revealed on 12 March that he left the party due to a coterie around party chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, which blocked constructive advice. Appearing before CID in the Kakinada Port and SEZ scam, he dismissed speculation about joining another party and emphasised his focus on farming, defending his attire against social media criticism
Former YSRC MP V Vijayasai Reddy on Wednesday, 12 March, stated that he left the party due to a coterie that surrounded party chief and former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
He alleged that this inner circle acted as a solid barrier, preventing him and others with constructive advice from reaching Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Speaking after appearing before CID officials in connection with allegations against him in the Kakinada Port and SEZ scam, Vijayasai Reddy, claimed that this coterie remained an impenetrable group and influenced Jagan Mohan Reddy against him. “This was the primary reason I left the party,” he said.
He also dismissed media speculation about joining another party. “I am engaged in agriculture, as I had previously announced. I don’t understand why people find it amusing that I am pursuing farming,” he remarked. Responding to social media comments about him doing agriculture while dressed in trousers and shirts, he asked, “Does a farmer have to wear traditional attire only? Isn’t it disrespectful to say that he should not wear decent dress?”
Vijayasai Reddy disclosed that before resigning from YSRCP, he had a lengthy phone conversation with Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was in London at the time. During the talk, he explained the reasons for his dissatisfaction with the party and advised Jagan Mohan Reddy to connect directly with the people instead of isolating himself behind a coterie.
Vijayasai Reddy said: “He is at a crucial stage in his political career and must serve the people for many more years.” The former YSRPC leader said that there was no chance of him returning to YSRCP. “I will never do a ‘ghar wapsi’,” he asserted. He also felt sorry that despite his selfless service to the party and its leader for over three and a half years, he had faced humiliation at every stage from those close to Jagan Mohan Reddy.
He further alleged that the influence of this group still persists and continues to dominate Jagan Mohan Reddy’s decisions. “I was deeply hurt by the behaviour of the coterie, who obstructed anyone trying to meet the leader. The pain caused by this treatment will not fade away,” he said.
The CID summoned Vijayasai Reddy following allegations by the former chairman and managing director of Kakinada Seaports Limited (KSPL), who claimed that Reddy played a role in the transfer of ₹3,600 crore worth of shares in KSPL and Kakinada SEZ during the previous YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) regime.
Vijayasai Reddy denied any involvement in the case, stating, “They have listed me as Accused No. 2. In fact, in the past, the CBI in its 10 cases and the ED in its 11 cases against Jagan Mohan Reddy listed me as A2. It has become a pattern, as if in every case related to Jagan Mohan Reddy, I should figure as A2,” he said.
He maintained that he had nothing to do with the alleged scam and distanced himself from Aurobindo Group, despite his daughter being married into the family. When CID officials questioned him about YSRC leader YV Subba Reddy’s son Y. Vikranth Reddy’s involvement, Vijayasai Reddy claimed that Vikranth Reddy orchestrated the deal between KV Rao and Aurobindo proprietor Sarath Chandra Reddy. However, he stated that he did not believe Jagan Mohan Reddy was aware of these transactions.
KV Rao, the former chairman of Kakinada Port, had alleged in his complaint to the CID that he faced undue pressure to transfer his shares in KSPL and Kakinada SEZ during the YSRCP regime. He claimed that audits were manipulated, and he and his family were threatened with legal action if they did not comply.
According to his complaint, shares worth approximately ₹2,500 crore in KSPL were acquired for ₹494 crore, while shares valued at ₹1,109 crore in Kakinada SEZ were purchased for just ₹12 crore. The CID registered a case based on these allegations and initiated an investigation, with the Enforcement Directorate (ED) also issuing notices to those accused.
Vijayasai Reddy has figured in the case of the alleged coercive acquisition of shares in the port and SEZ. It is said that in May 2020, Vijayasai Reddy approached KV Rao and drew his attention to irregularities found in an audit of KSPL conducted by the then-government. Rao claimed that he was summoned to discuss these issues and was pressured into transferring his shares in KSPL and Kakinada SEZ. Under duress, he allegedly signed documents facilitating the transfer.
Vijayasai Reddy had also appeared before the ED in January 2025, where he denied all allegations, including those related to money laundering.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
