Political Diary

YSR’s adviser, Mr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, who met Mr Mukherjee on Sunday, said he had nothing new to say. The uncertainty is reflected in the pronouncements of ministers. “The high command should have decided on the issue of leadership. If it does not want Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy as Chief Minister, it could have said Mr Rosaiah would continue. That would give us some clarity,” said a minister. “We are not sure who will be there as the Chief Minister next week,” said another.

Mr Rosaiah himself says he will move to the ‘C Block’, the office of the Chief Minister in the Secretariat, only after the high command gives the green signal.The demand to end the political uncertainty has also come from an unexpected quarter. On Sunday, the TD politburo member. Dr N. Janardhan Reddy, said during a press conference that the “Congress should make it clear whom they are going to make Chief Minister on a permanent basis so that some normality can be expected. The ministers and MLAs are not concentrating on people’s issues and instead are worrying about who will be CM.”

Meanwhile the minister for agriculture, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy, known as a staunch supporter of the ‘Jagan as CM’ demand met the PCC chief, Mr D. Srinivas, to discuss issues related to the Anantapur MLC by-poll seat. He said the high command is seized of the matter of the succession issue and all will abide by the decision. He said the Congress Legislature Party will soon meet and elect its leader.

In another development, ministers have expressed divergent opinions on the continuation of the DGP, Mr S.S.P. Yadav, after Mr Rosaiah announced that there is no proposal to shift him. The minister for animal husbandry, Mr K.P. Saradhi, on Sunday said the DGP should be transferred for his objectionable behaviour at a media conference in Tirumala on Saturday.

In Delhi, the senior Congress leader, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, said the high command would take a decision at an appropriate time which will factor in popular sentiments for Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy.

“We are fully aware of the popular support in the state. We know that there is emotional upsurge. We know that many people committed suicide and many people want Jagan,” he said before meeting Mr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, Rajya Sabha member and close aide of the YSR family who has been staying for a week in the capital engaging the party top brass on this issue.

After the meeting, Mr Rao told reporters that he had nothing to add. “I had apprised him of the current political situation and the proceedings at the all party meet in Hyderabad to condole the late leader.”
Mr Rao also said that Mr Pranab Mukherjee would convey the decision after consulting the party president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, and other senior leaders.

Asked if he would meet any other Congress leaders, Mr Rao said he would be in the capital to attend the meeting of the parliamentary standing committee on finance. However, Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, who is also a part of the committee, will not be attending the meet.

Meanwhile, the law minister, Mr M. Veerappa Moily, and party state in-charge told reporters in Delhi, “We believe in timing. (We) will time it in an appropriate way because we have to look for another four-and-a-half years of stable government as far as AP is concerned.” Asked about the time it will take to decide on the succession issue, Mr Moily said, “I cannot give a timeline, but the Congress president, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, will take a decision shortly.”