YS Jaganmohan Reddy gives tips on becoming a successful political leader

Vijayawada: YSR Congress President YS Jaganmohan Reddy on Tuesday asked "aspiring political leaders" to visit houses in each village, talk to residents about their problems and simultaneously rank the performance of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu by posing questions to them.

"I will reveal a secret on how to become a political leader. Do as I said and ask me if you don't become a leader in five months," he said, addressing the party's state executive meeting here this evening.

This was the first time after the bifurcation of the state in 2004 that the YSRC held its executive meeting in Vijayawada, the functional capital of Andhra Pradesh.

He released a pamphlet listing 100 queries on the performance of the TDP-led government in general and the Chief Minister in particular and wanted his party workers to obtain people's ranking on them.

If Naidu scores zero, people themselves would drown him in the Bay of Bengal, the Leader of Opposition remarked.

"You need not be the son or grandson of an MLA to become a political leader. Go and meet people in each house. Spend some quality time with them listening to their grievances and wellbeing. Do this and you will get to become an MLA."

Citing the "senior most MLA" Peddireddi Ramachandra Reddy as an example, the YSRC leader noted the former never lost an election "because he mingled with people so well".

The party would undertake a mass contact programme, "YSRC at every doorstep", from July 8, the birth anniversary of late Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, Jagan announced.

"Complete the household visits in five months and then form committees right from the polling booth level. People will bless you."

The 43-year-old Opposition leader spit fire on the Chief Minister, accusing him of "purchasing our 20 MLAs (who have defected to ruling TDP) like cattle" by offering "Rs 30 crore each".

"I feel sad that we are in such a system where there is none to question this," Jagan rued.

Party MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy, senior leaders Dharmana Prasada Rao and Botsa Satyanarayana, among others, attended the meeting.