YSR Congress party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy began his fast on Sunday morning.

Jagan is on a hunger strike to protest Centre's approach towards dividing Andhra pradesh.

Jagan began fasting with the slogan:"The Centre should maintain status quo if it cannot do justice to all regions while dividing the state." (Jagan demands?)

It may be recalled that YSRCP honorary president and Jagan's mother, YS Vijayamma fasted for six days to press the Centre to maintain status quo on Andhra Pradesh if it cannot do justice to all the regions in the state.
However, she was forced to call off her strike after doctors declared her health condition critical.

Unable to see his mother suffer, Jagan requested Vijayamma to end her fast. However, understanding how important it is to stand by the people of state, Jagan decided to take forward the fast initiated by his mother.

"I would pick up the fast from where she has left and begin indefinite fast tomorrow as the two main parties (Congress and TDP) are maintaining silence with an eye on votes and seats,” Jagan told his party leaders who called on him at the Chanchalguda jail on Saturday.

It is learnt that Jagan refused tea and breakfast today morning, as his fast began.

This is not the first time a member of YSR family has kept up his promise. Earlier, despite Congress' warnings Jagan went ahead with his Odarpu Yatra to honour his promise made to people after the demise of his father and people's leader Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy.

His sister Sharmila embarked upon a padayatra titled 'Maro Praja Prasthanam' to honour Jagan's promise to the people.
Now, Jagan as a responsible party president has taken it upon himself to go on an indefinite hungerstrike at the Chanchalguda jail itself.

This is what makes Jagan a powerful force to reckon with. No wonder that within minutes after Jagan declared his decision to fast, scores of his supporters thronged Chanchalguda to express solidarity with their icon. Several other followers of Jagan have began fasting too to pledge their support to Jagan.

This itself is proof enough for Jagan's growing popularity.

-Siva@sakshipost