Political Diary: 2009-09-13

Will the TRS furnace gets cool ever?

Is the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) still facing some internal problems? The answer appears to be yes, going by the the statement made by TRS Mancherial MLA Arvind Reddy who has, once again, raised his voice against the party leadership.

Participating in the ``Hyderabad Liberation Day’’ discussion programme on a TV channel from Mancherial, Arvind Reddy said it was high time the TRS changed itself from a political party to an organisation that could launch people’s movements.

``The TRS, which once won 26 Assembly seats and 5 Lok Sabha seats previously, could manage only 10 seats in the recent elections and, if it did not mend its ways, would not even manage five,’’ he said.

Reddy said that for his part he would throw his weight behind efforts to change party policies. Dismissing allegations that he was planning to sail with the Congress, he said he was committed to the TRS.

Arvind Reddy’s comments on the party come at a time when the TRS leadership is happy that another TRS rebel leader and Medak MP Vijayashanti is involved in a scam. After the general elections, Arvind Reddy had met the then chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, raising suspicions that he was gravitating towards the Congress camp.

Also, the TRS MLA had cancelled party president K Chandrasekahara Rao’s `Palle Bata’ programme in his constituency last month saying he was ``not well’’.

Rosaiah forgets he is CM

The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, is still to come to terms with the fact that he is now the head of the state cabinet.This was evident from the video conference he held with district collectors in which he made several remarks as if he was still the finance minister and the final decision had to be taken by the ‘Chief Minister’.For instance, while referring to the emptying of the existing stocks with rice millers to accommodate the produce in the coming kharif, Mr Rosaiah said the Chief Minister and civil supplies minister would immediately look into the matter. Then he corrected himself and said, “We would look into the matter.”
Likewise, while talking about Rajiv Arogyasri, he said the Chief Minister had developed a fool proof system to extend the benefit of the health insurance scheme to all the needy. Then he added that he meant the late Dr Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.Surely, Mr Rosaiah alone cannot be blamed for all this since his ministers have not made him feel so far that he is their Chief Minister.

Jagan camp ‘Singh’ PM in his favour

State Congress leaders trying to gain the Chief Ministership for Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of YSR, claim they have got positive response from the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh.
The senior Congress MP from Guntur, Mr Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, said on Thursday that the Prime Minister had told him that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy was suitable for the Chief Minister’s post and that the high command would take up the issue soon and decide in his favour.
Mr Rayapati said Dr Singh had told him that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy was likely to be made the Chief Minister by the end of this month. The MP met the Prime Minister on Wednesday and talked to mediapersons after an interaction with Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, aide of the late YSR.
Mr G. Vivekanand, MP of Peddapalli, who met Dr Singh along with his elder brother and former minister, Mr G. Vinod, also said they got a favourable response from him. According to them, Dr Singh was impressed with the response Mr Jagan was getting from people as a possible successor to YSR and said that the party core committee would meet and decide on the issue soon.

Congress wins Council bypoll in Anantapur

Patil Venugopal Reddy of the Congress has won the Local Authorities’ Constituency seat of the Legislative Council in the district, the byelection for which was held on September 15, by defeating H. Fayaz Basha of the TDP with a margin of 240 first preference votes.
The counting of votes of the bypoll was held in the SSBN College here on Thursday. The counting was taken up at 8 a.m. and was completed by 9.15 a.m. Returning Officer for the election and Joint Collector Anita Ramachandran handed over the declaration form to the winner later.Victory expected
The victory of the Congress candidate and the margin of the victory were both expected as the ruling party has more strength in the local bodies -- Mandal Parishads, Zilla Parishad and municipal bodies- whose members formed part of the electorate for the Local Authorities’ Constituency of the Council.
Besides, cross-voting by a sizeable number of TDP members from the local bodies was also expected once the campaign began for the byelection. In fact, the ruling party succeeded in luring several MPTC members, a couple of ZPTC members and a few councillors of the rival TDP into its fold, albeit unofficially, as part of ‘Operation Aakarsh’ during the run-up to the election. Of the 1,128 votes polled, the Congress candidate secured 679 first preference votes, against 439 by his TDP rival.

Rayapati claims Jagan will be CM

The Congress MP, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, on Thursday said the Kadapa MP, Y S Jaganmohan Reddy would become the next Chief Minister of the State.
The MP from Guntur claimed that the Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had promised to pass on the legacy to Jagan by the end of September. He said the Congress high command would take a decision to this effect and ensure that Jagan is made the Chief Minister.
He further said the high command had analysed the public demand in favour of Jagan since the death of Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy. The leadership was only waiting to know whether the demand is orchestrated or genuine, he said.
In the midst of senior leaders, including K V P Ramachandra Rao changing the tone on the subject indicating that the chances of Jagan succeeding Dr Rajasekhar Reddy are bleak, the Guntur MP’s statement came as a surpise.It is to be seen how far Rayapati Sambasiva Rao is believable.

K.C.R praises Nizam of Hyderabad again

T R S president K. Chandrasekhar Rao heaped praise on the Nizam of Hyderabad at the celebration of Hyderabad Liberation Day at the party office here on Thursday.Mr. Rao had kicked off a controversy a few years ago when he praised the Nizam and even paid tributes at his grave at King Kothi here.
The TRS president targeted the critics of Hyderabad Liberation Day for ridiculing the celebrations and warned of severe consequences if they did not stop it.
Mr. Rao took objection to criticism that the day did not deserve to be celebrated to mark the ‘independence of Telangana’ and said it was certainly independence for the region as it was freed from the clutches of feudal forces. September 17 was as important to people of Telangana as August 15 for the rest of the State. He demanded the government to celebrate September 17 officially like in parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka that were hitherto in the erstwhile Hyderabad State.
If the people of coastal districts adore Cotton and have set up his statues, the people of Telangana were well within their rights to honour the Nizam in a similar way. However, Mr. Rao admitted to certain lacunae in the Nizam’s reign owing to the feudalistic set-up of the time.
Addressing a press conference after hoisting the national flag, Mr. Rao asked what was wrong in praising the Nizam who did a lot good for Telangana. Could anyone claim that the Nizam did not construct Nizamsagar which provided irrigation to three lakh acres of land, he asked. The construction of Nizamsagar was a fact of history like the Dowleswaram barrage which was built by Sir Arthur Cotton.

Andhra CM asks Bhu Bharathi spl cell to speed up pilot project

Chief Minister K Rosaiah today asked the Bhu Bharathi Special Cell to speed up the pilot project in Nizamabad district and start the project in five other districts where it was to be taken up.
Lamenting that the project was taking much time, he said there is a need to speed up the work and at least complete the project in Nizamabad district. He said the state must also make use of the assistance from the centre for the project and start the work in other districts.
The Chief Minister was informed that as far as the pilot project of Bhu Bharathi in Nizamabad was concerned, the survey of agricultural lands was completed and Digital database created. In all, 8.76 lakh land parcel sketches were generated and distributed to pattadars and lawful enjoyers.
Issue of statutory notices under Survey & Boundaries Act is completed in 115 villages. Village site survey was completed in one village and the results were discussed with the Panchayat Raj Department. Field study conducted in select wards in three
Municipalities by NRSA/Implementing Agency and Bhu Bharati to assess the accuracy and utility of aerial photography.The Chief Minister was informed that the Draft law prepared in this regard was scrutinised by the Law Department. Remarks on the law department observations were submitted back to the Department.
The Law Department have advised to refer the draft law to the Advocate General for his opinion. The Government of India has been urged to prepare a common model law for adoption by all the States.

CM agrees to regularise encroachment of BPL people in slum areas

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today agreed to the proposal to regularize the encroachments of eligible BPL people for 80 sq. yards, particularly in the slum areas with ration cards as proof, if they satisfy other terms and conditions like genuine occupancy of the area.
He held a review meeting on regularisation of Government lands under GO 166 with minister and officials at Secretariat.
The Government has introduced the scheme of transfer of rights on certain occupations/encroachments of specified categories of unassigned Government lands in the State by way of structures or otherwise on payment basis in GO 166 dated February 16, 2008.
Certain guidelines were framed for regularising the eligible encroachments on production of prescribed documents. The Collectors have regularized the proposals up to 80 sq. yards on free of cost to the eligible poor. The majority of the applications were received in Districts of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy.

Is AP Congress bankrupt of leadership?

There are two things that are leading people to conclude that AP Congress is suddenly bankrupt - bankrupt of leadership. AP Congress legislators pleading for the novice Jagan Mohan Reddy not only to lead them but also to rule the state. What is there in this 37 year old young businessman that is not there in veteran congress leaders in the state? There are not many achievements in his pocket with out his father’s support. At the same time Congress high command could not announce a leader for ruling the state. There is always backup for employees even in smal IT companies. It is surprised to know that there is no backup for late chief minister Dr.YSR in the AP government.
Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s tackling Naxalites or uplifting the weaker sections of society was not a joke. The big question is: Can Jagan Mohan Reddy, who was initiated into politics only in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, be suitable for the post of chief minister? To avoid such embarrassment and for the smooth running of the government, Jagan Mohan should cooperate with Sonia Gandhi to take a decision for the state to fulfil the dream of YSR.

KCR son under house arrest

Tension prevailed in Yellareddypet during ZPTC byelection on Wednesday as Sircilla MLA and TRS chief K. Chandrasekhar Rao’s son K. Taraka Rama Rao (KTR) was placed under house arrest from 10.30 pm to 5 pm.
TRS activists staged a protest against the detention and accused the Congress of using money and liquor to lure voters and resorting to “politics of death” referring to the demise of former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. The trouble began at about 10 am when Mr Rama Rao set about to tour villages to ensure no rigging takes place. Sircilla CI Vijaya Kumar and SI Venkate-swarlu objected to his tour of villages citing rules.
Ignoring their objections, he went ahead and reached Adavi Padira village, trailed by police vehicles, where he came across Karimnagar District Cooperative Central Bank chairman Koduri Ravinder Rao and his bête noire Mr K.K. Mahender Reddy, the TRS rebel who recently joined Congress.Mr Rama Rao questioned the presence of Mr Ravinder Rao in the village saying it was against model code. However, Mr Ravinder Rao tried to turn the tables on Mr KTR by stating that he was the native of the village and his vote was there. “It is you who is violating the code by touring villages,” he said.
After heated argument among leaders of rival parties and police, the police forced Mr Rama Rao to return to Yellareddypet and confined him to a house along with CESS chairman Chikkala Rama Rao, party leader Tota Agaiah and five more activists.
Later, Mr Ravinder Rao and Mahender Reddy were also taken into custody at Maddimalla and Veernapalli villages and detained at a police station before being let off an hour later.Mr Rama Rao launched a scathing attack on the Congress leaders for trying to woo voters with money and liquor besides trying to cash in on the death of Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy.Meanwhile, 60.81 per cent polling was recorded in Timmapur and 60.25 per cent in Yellareddypet ZPTC bypolls.

AP politics turns as comedy serial!

For the record, Andhra Pradesh has a Chief Minister in Konijeti Rosaiah, but not in reality. At least, that is what ministers and legislators believe and quite strongly too.
The lighter way of looking at events unfolding since the tragic death of Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a chopper crash on September 2 is as a political comedy. The other way is to view it as ugly and repulsive. Either way, it is nauseating.
Ministers continue to keep away from the Secretariat, not caring to attend to even pressing public issues. Instead, they are happy to mark their daily attendance before Jagan Mohan Reddy. Just as health minister D Nagender did when Rosaiah was in a meeting with doctors on how to contain the rapid spread of swine flu.
A long list of over 300 other "natural" deaths across the State, mostly of those suffering from heart and other ailments, have been linked by YSR loyalists to his untimely and shocking end.
Things have come to such a pass that even the TTD board took the most unholy step: passing a political resolution favouring Jagan Mohan Reddy as chief minister. Meanwhile, the state needs a chief minister with full backing of the central leaders.

Chiru in a new look with muslim brothers

Praja Rajyam chief Chiranjeevi hosted an Iftar party at Jubilee Hall in Hyderabad on Wednesday. The actor-turned-politician, who dressed like a sheikh, created a frenzy when he reached the hall for the party. Accompanying Chiranjeevi are two PR supporters, Mir Yusuf Ali (left) and Ahmed Hussain Khan.
Chiranjeevi hosted Iftar yesterday for his Muslim friends on a grand scale. He was clothed in traditional Dubai Sheik style with the request of his friends. Indeed, wearing variety costumes in not new for Chiranjeevi. He did that several times while acting in movies. But this is a ‘political get up’ as many politicians tend to clad

YSR succession issue:KVP goes into huddle with state ministers

The Congress High Command is unlikely to decide on the successor to late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy at least till the completion of elections in three states in October-end.
A clear indication to this effect was given by state HealthMinister D Nagender, one of the key members of the ’draft-Jagan-as-CM’’ campaign after his meeting with Dr K V P Ramachandra Rao, the aide of late Dr Reddy, here today.
Dr Rao, who returned after lobbying for Jagan-as-CM in New Delhi, had a meeting with 12 to 13 important ministers of the camp.’’The High Command is busy and focussing on elections in Maharashtra,’’ the minister said, giving a clear indication that their campaign could be factored in later.
Polls in three states, Maharashtra, Haryana and Arunachal Pradesh, would go on till October end. Municipal Administration Minister A Ramanarayana Reddy, another key member of the Jagan camp, who also met Dr Rao, felt that the camp would abide by the decision of the high command.
Endowments Minister Gadde Venkata Reddy, Small Scale Industries Minister D K Aruna also backed Mr Ramanarayana Reddy’s assertion.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Congress Party echoed AICC Spokesman Manu Singhvi’s assertion that Mr Rosaiah was the Chief Minister and there was a cabinet in place. Any decision to amend or alter the present arrangement would be taken, if necessary, at an appropriate time.
Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah continued to review various departments, including social welfare and backward classes today.Mr Rosaiah kept the review a low key affair, functioning from his earlier ’’D’’ block chamber, where he used to function as Finance Minister.

KVP speaks for Jagan, leaves decision to leader..

The Rajya Sabha member, K V P Ramachandra Rao, who has been lobbying with the high command for nomination of Kadapa MP, Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, as the next Chief Minister, finally came out with a fresh statement on Wednesday.
KVP, for the first time after the death of Dr Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, said Jagan would go by the decision of the high command, indicating that the chances of Jagan succeeding his father are bleak. This statement preceded a couple of statements by the Ministers who said they would go by the decision of the high command. The Ministers who pressed for appointment of Jagan as Chief Minister and who also threatened to quit the party if Jagan is not made CM, have changed their tone bringing down the aggressiveness in their words. They appeared very cautious while making statements for Jagan and were seen dejected indicating that the high command was against Jagan’s succession.
After these statements, KVP finally spoke leaving the issue to the high command. He had even advised Jagan against taking up a State wide tour to console the family members of those who died of cardiac arrest or suicide following the death of Dr Rajasekhar Reddy. As many as 487 persons died or committide suicide following the death of Dr Rajasekhar Reddy and Jagan wanted to visit them all and express his solidarity with their families.
Following strict instructions from the high command, KVP had advised Jagan to drop the idea of touring the State.
It appears now Jagan’s camp is trying to compromise with the party high command for the time being. However, it is to be seen how long this compromise would continue as there is strong demand from majority of the MLAs to make Jagan as the Chief Minister.

Tekkali MLA meets Jagan, not met CM yet

Tekkali MLA Korla Bharathi visits YS Jagan and extended her support today. She came to Hyderabad today and met with YS Jagan, she is yet to meet PCC chief D.Srinivas and chief minister K.Rosaiah. The state Congress Party is making rounds around YS Jagan and most of the MLAs and MPs are still loyal to YS Jagan even though Congress high command does not give any favourable signs to install YS Jagan in chief minister seat.
Congress leaders strongly believe that their loyalty to YSR family would bring them victory in next election also. It is be noted that they also have hints that YS Jagan would be riding the party during 2014 elections and his blessings are mandatory for getting seat and also winning the election.
We need to wait and see how long chief minister K.Rosaiah and Congress high command accept the domination of YS Jagan in state politics.

TTD board also proposed Jagan for CM!

Tirumala Tirupathi Devasthanam(TTD) is getting into politics regularly. Telugu Desam Party(TDP) claimed that TTD has passed a resolution in support of Jagan as CM campaign.
It all started when Tuda chief Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, who is also an ex-officio member of TTD, sought board chief D K Adikeshavulu Naidu to pass a resolution during the September 15 board meeting proposing YS Jaganmohan Reddy as chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and fax the letter to the party high command. It may be recalled Chevireddy broke 10,116 coconuts at Alipiri gate on Sunday to fulfill his wish of making Jagan as the next CM.
However, timely intervention by TTD executive officer IYR Krishna Rao did not let TTD trust board to pass the intended resolution in support of Jagan. Krishna Rao told DK that politics were a no-no atop Tirumala. However, TDP claimed that board has passed the resolution soon after EO left the meeting.

Jagan acts as de-facto CM

The congress party high command may have appointed Rosaiah as the chief minister following the death of YSR but as far as many state leaders are concerned, the real chief minister is YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The ministers, MLAs and party leaders are not giving the respect that is due to Rosaiah as CM. They are all calling on Jagan and taking orders from him. The open defiance of Rosaiah and the open support to Jagan is causing a lot of discomfort to the incumbent CM.
Jagan is acting like the CM. It is not exactly to the liking of the high command but it is watching the situation silently. The ministers and MLAs have been warned not to ignore Rosaiah but they have so far defied the diktat of the high command.

MLAs bring crowds in lorries to greet Jagan

The high command has so far not taken any decision on the successor of YSR as chief minister. The Jagan camp is worried over the delay in anointing Jagan as the next CM’
The MLA and ministers are now trying to bring pressure on the high command by bringing in hordes of supporters to the camp office to meet Jagan. The idea is to show to the high command that apart from the party leaders the people in the state also want only Jagan as CM.

Chiru fails again?

The defeat in Tekkali by-elections indicates that the Praja Rajyam President Chiranjeevi still unable to make his presence felt in the politics. PRP candidate Duvvada Srinivasarao lost his deposit to his rival Congress candidate K. Bharati.
Despite deploying senior leaders of the party, Chiru couldn’t influence the voters, where as the Congress candidate won the elections despite poor campaigning. There was a large gap in the campaigning by Congress candidate, due to the sudden death of Dr.Y.S.R, still the party fared very well in the elections. However, TDP candidate K.Atchen Naidu gives his Congress rival a tough fight, thus allowing her to win with a narrow margin of 7,133 votes only.

New CM will be after November only

The Congress has taken note of the fact that Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy, son of the late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. has emerged a force to reckon with in the state.
Sources indicated that the leadership could take a decision only after the Maharashtra Assembly polls, which would be November. The Jagan-as-CM camp came to this conclusion after talking to its mentor, Dr K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, who returned to Hyderabad on Monday. Sources said the high command feels any decision now could send the wrong signal to the party in poll-bound Maharashtra and Haryana.
“It is clear now that even if Jagan is not made CM, any other person in that post will need to have his backing,” a senior leader said. Highly placed sources said that as support swelled for the first-time MP, the Congress high command was forced to go slow on selecting a new Chief Minister.

PRP comes third, helps congress

The Praja Rajyam Party came a cropper in the by poll in Tekkali. The party nominee Srinivas came a distant third bagging just 17,858 votes. The PRP played spoilsport for the TDP by eating away votes. The TDP lost narrowly and it was due to the votes split by the PRP

The congress party must thank the PRP and Chiranjeevi for splitting votes and enabling the party to win. The PRP vote share has come down and it blamed it on the sympathy factor.

Congress wins in Tekkali

The congress party won the Tekkali by election with a big margin. The congress candidate Korla Padmavathi wife of late MLA Revathipathi beat her nearest rival the TDP candidate Acchem Naidu by 7,173 votes.

Padmavathi bagged 59,250 votes while the TDP candidate bagged 52,077 votes. The PRP bagged just 17, 858 votes.

10,116 coconuts for Jagan support

The Tirupati Urban Development Authority (Tuda) chairman, Mr Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, on Sunday broke 10,116 coconuts at Alipiri, the foot of Tirumala hills, with a prayer to Lord Venkateswara to make the Kadapa MP, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the Chief Minister.
“We performed puja to invoke Lord’s blessings so that YSR’s son becomes the Chief Minister.”
In Hyderabad, Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s chief security officer A.S.C. Wesley’s widow, Ms A. Kanthi, and her family members met Vijayalakshmi, widow of Dr Reddy, and son Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy at the camp office on Sunday.

Mr Reddy consoled Ms Kanthi who broke into tears after seeing Ms Vijayalakshmi.
At LN Peta in Srikakulam, two persons died during memorial meetings. In one meeting at Yambaram village, Kilari Saraswathi put a garland on a portrait of YSR and started sobbing. Later she took part in the rally and reached home. Minutes later she collapsed and died.
In another meeting at Amadalavalasa, Meka Prasad (40), suffered a heart attack and died.
In Devunikadapa (Kadapa) an autorickshaw driver committed suicide by hanging himself on Sunday. Sources said Ravishankar, 32, of Devunikadapa was an ardent fan of YSR.
Meanwhile, the Tirupati region of the Christian Students Centre on Sunday paid a candlelight tribute to YSR.

Party in limbo over CM

Confusion reigns in the government over the Chief Minister, due to the delay in deciding on a successor for the late Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy. Though a full-fledged Cabinet headed by Mr K. Rosaiah has been in place from September 3, there is no announcement from the AICC on whether or not this is a permanent arrangement. Even on Sunday, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, who heads a panel to select the new Chief Minister, and the state incharge, Mr Veerappa Moily, indicated that a decision may not be coming soon. “We believe in timing,” Mr Moily said.

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.”

Andhra home minister visits YSR chopper crash site

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister P.Sabita Indra Reddy Sunday visited the hillock in Nallamalla forests in Kurnool district where a helicopter crash Sep 2 killed Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy and four others.It was an emotional visit for the minister, whom the late chief minister called his younger sister and would launch all his programmes and campaigns from her assembly constituency of Chevella.

With tears in her eyes, Sabita, who was appointed the state’s first woman home minister after Congress retained power in the recent assembly elections, paid floral tributes to YSR, as the chief minister was popularly known.

Sabita, the first minister to visit the crash site, announced that the government would construct a befitting memorial for the late chief minister.She told reporters that the investigations into the crash were on and some vital clues were already collected.

The minister said the Central Bureau of Investigations (CBI) had launched its probe besides the investigations by the federal Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the atate’s Crime Investigation Department (CID). The government has also set up a two-member expert committee for a comprehensive probe.

Sabita said she was sad at not being able to attend the last rites of YSR at his native town Pulivendula in Kadapa district. The minister was caught in a huge traffic jam and could not reach the site in time for burial.

YSR, his special secretary, chief security officer and two pilots were killed when their helicopter crashed on a hillock in the forests. The chief minister was on his way to Chittoor district from Hyderabad to launch a mass contact programme "Racchabanda".

"I feel that launching this programme from Chevella could have saved his life," she said.

YSR had launched 1500-km state-wide "padyatra" from Chevella in Ranga Reddy district near Hyderabad in 2003. This walkathon helped him storm to power in 2004 and since then he launched every major scheme and poll campaign from Chevella.

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