Congress high command not backing YSR son

Congress central leadership is keen on keeping K Rosaiah as interim chief minister for at least one month, said sources
Hardnews Bureau

Even as Andhra Pradesh grieves the death of Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, the Congress party is mulling hard over his successor. A strong lobby comprising a clutch of state cabinet ministers has already sent a letter to Congress President Sonia Gandhi requesting her to make YSR's son, YS Jaganmohan Reddy, the next chief minister. Meanwhile, sources told Hardnews that the central leadership is keen on keeping K Rosaiah as interim chief minister for at least one month.

With YSR's death, his loyalists have been pushing the agenda of making Jagan the next CM as they believe that he will command people's respect like his father. The state cabinet, chaired by Rosaiah, passed a resolution on Thursday urging the Congress central leadership to make Jagan the next chief minister. A minister in the state cabinet had gone on record saying that he'll split the party if Jagan is not made the CM. Jagan's followers are using precedents of Rajiv Gandhi taking over as PM after his mother's assassination to buttress their claims. Congress high command, Hardnews learnt, is not very impressed. Party sources told Hardnews that the political situation is very tricky and it would need a great deal of maneouvering to settle the leadership issue in the state.

The situation has been exacerbated by the assertion of some cabinet members of Andhra Pradesh that the best tribute to YSR would be the induction of Jagan for the top job. A signature campaign has also been initiated by YSR loyalists. It is claimed that 122 of the 155 legislators have urged the Congress president to consider Jagan's name as the next CM. The legislators submitted their request to Veerappa Moily, in charge of Andhra Pradesh in AICC. Moily, however, said that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) would take the final decision.

Sources informed Hardnews that the central leadership is not too keen on naming Rosaiah, a party loyalist for more than 50 years and known for his integrity, as the next CM. Rosaiah is not even considered as a strong contender. Reasons: old age, no support among other legislators and lack of mass base. However, they are likely to persist with him till politics normalizes in the state and the legislators are able to take a more rational decision on who should lead the legislature party.

An impression being created that Jagan, by virtue of being his father's son, is popular among the state's legislators and the people in the Kadapa district. But his inexperience in politics can work against him and so are his rough ways. He is only about three months old in politics after he was elected as an MP from Kadapa in 2009 general elections.

The final decision rests with Congress President. The party's central leadership would certainly consider the demands of state legislators in choosing the next CM. The Congress leadership wants the situation to normalise so that emotions do not take precedence over hard political decision. Names of APCC President D Srinivas, who allegedly lost the elections due to the exertions of YSR not wanting anyone to pose a challenge to him, and NT Ramarao's daughter, Purandeshwari Devi, are doing the rounds as the next CM.

Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi were among many other leaders who flew to YSR's official residence in Begumpet to condole YSR's death. They met YSR's wife and son and paid their condolences. Meanwhile, it is being reported that more than 65 people have committed suicide or died of shock after hearing the news of YSR's death. Jagan also made a request to the public to not attempt suicide and be brave for his father.