Hyderabad:A day after his release from jail, Jaganmohan Reddy has hinted that he would work towards the formation of a secular Third Front with like-minded parties to play a key role in national politics. He will also take up a Samaikya Yatra (United AP tour) across the state soon and also meet leaders of the CPM and the Majlis to enlist their support for the cause.

On Wednesday, Reddy had a series of meetings with party legislators and senior leaders in the party’s “core group” at his Lotus Pond residence.

When developments like the Telugu Desam trying to tie up with the BJP was mentioned during one of the meetings, he reportedly said, “Let us not bother about what is happening on the TD or the Congress front. Let us stick to the principle of secularism regardless of losses or gains.”

About the allegations that his release was facilitated by the Congress high command, Mr Reddy said, “The Congress is not that strong either in the state or in other parts of the country. I feel a secular Third Front will be the best alternative and is the need of the hour; there are many parties who don’t want to work with the Congress or the BJP.”

He also mentioned BJD leader Naveen Patnaik, Trinamul leader Mamata Banerjee and SP leader Mulayam Singh Yadav as fighting against both the Congress and the BJP.

About the ongoing bifurcation issue of the state, Jagan Mohan Reddy told leaders that the party was committed towards a United AP and would agitate to keep the state united. He also hinted that he would soon take up a “Samaikya Yatra” across the state in two phases with the first phase being in the Seemandhra region.

He hinted that he would try to unite the CPM and the MIM, parties that were also opposed to the state’s division, and try to form a political front.
He also suggested that party cadres and leaders should actively get involved in the agitations and be the front runners for the united AP cause.