HYDERABAD, India (Reuters) - When Jagan Mohan Reddy finally emerged from 16 months behind bars in southern India last month, the adoring crowd that greeted the young politician was so enormous that it took him six hours to drive the 11 km (7 miles) to his home.
The scene underscored Reddy's growing popularity - despite a thicket of corruption scandals around him - and it served as a rude reminder to national leaders up north in New Delhi that regional party bosses like Reddy will hold the key to power after elections next year.