HYDERABAD: If the Congress leadership is drawing up plans to checkmate YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the latter is clearly not willing to take it lying down. On the contrary, the young MP, son of the late YSR, could prove more than a handful even for the seasoned Congress veterans in Delhi.

While there are different views on Jagan’s capacity to split the party in the state, the Kadapa MP does not seem to entertain such a thought in the immediate future. But what he is certain to do is keep the Rosaiah government on the brink and thereby put pressure on Delhi to give him the “due recognition” that he believes he deserves.

Highly placed sources confirmed to Express that some businessmen from Karnataka approached the top BJP leaders in Delhi on behalf of Jagan a month ago seeking the main Opposition party’s support in case the MP decides to walk out of the Congress. But there was only silence from the BJP leaders.

The BJP has little strength in AP but Jagan is understood to be keen on warming up to the national party keeping his long-term political/economic interests in view. His ties with BJP ministers in Karnataka - the Gali brothers – is no secret. But the Gali brothers were not involved in the parleys with BJP leaders in Delhi.

As things stand, the BJP’s top leaders are understood to be of the view that the party has nothing to gain by poking its nose in the internal happenings of the Congress in AP or in protecting/promoting Jagan. Therefore, the silence.

Though not Jagan himself, those interested in him are also said to be in touch with NCP leader Sharad Pawar, one of the few Congressmen who broke away from the party and yet managed to not only survive but also remain a key player at the national level.

For now, it looks like a cat and mouse game. Having made it clear that it is not willing to consider Jagan Mohan for the chief minister’s post immediately, the Congress leadership is said to have dropped hints that it is not averse to accommodating him in the Union Cabinet should the “boy” behave. Jagan, on the other hand, is growing restless over Delhi not considering him so far even though he has remained quiet for some months. Hence, the recent public attack against the state government and the defiance of the high command directive not to tour Telangana.

With PRP leader Chiranjeevi in Delhi for a meeting with the Congress leadership, political corridors in the capital are abuzz with speculation that YSR’s son might be hastening a showdown. But the Congress leadership still feels that its knowledge of the skeletons in Jagan’s cupboard would deter the MP or his followers from rocking the government. On his part, Jagan Mohan is confident of showing the party what he could do if it tried to hurt his political future. Who will have the last laugh remains to be seen.