Report on security lapses at Idupulapaya likely to submit

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The one-man committee headed by Additional Director General of Police A K Khan is likely to submit his report on the alleged security lapses on the cremation day of former Chief Minister Dr YS Rajsekhara Reddy at Idupulapaya on September 3. According to source, the Government had appointed a one-man committee two days back to probe into the police lapses leading to commotion, traffic jams resulting in the Ministers, Opposition leaders failing attend to the creamation in time from Renigunta. The Ministers, Opposition leader N Chandrababu Naidu, PRP President Chiranjeevi flew to Renigunta from here and from there they proceeded to Idupulapaya by buses. However, they failed to reach the place in time due to heavy traffic jams. There were allegations that the police had failed to take necessary steps to control the people who thronged Idupulapaya to attend the cremation. Mr Khan would submit his report tomorrow evening or the day after morning, the sources said. Meanwhile, the the CID probe which was appointed by government to inqire into the crash of helicopter in which the departed leader and four others were killed on September 2 would submit its report in four days, the sources said
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YSR’s death impact’s Tirumala pilgrims

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The world famous Venkateswara temple witnessed low turnout of pilgrims since Y S Rajashekara Reddy’s death. For the last few days including weekends, there had been a big respite, with only few compartments witnessing huge rush at the Vaikuntam queue complex. While on last Saturday and Sunday when heavy pilgrim rush is generally seen, it registered very less amount of people and took three hours for the general pilgrims to have darshan of Lord Venkateswara Swamy, according to temple sources. Correspondingly, the occupancy rate in the APSRTC buses bound for Tirumala was also low compare to weekend rush. However, it is the first time in the history of the temple that the weekend witnessed a fall in the pilgrims rush to Tirumala, sources said. The temple hundi collection was also affected due to fall in the pilgrim rush. The Congress leaders, who were in the state at mourning mood, stayed away from visiting Tirumala temple and also received very low number of recommendation letters from the State Ministers, Congress MLAs and also from other states, the sources added.
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Former Andhra Pradesh Speaker urges Sonia Gandhi to consider Jagan’s candidature

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Former Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker K R Suresh Reddy today urged the AICC President and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi to consider the candidature of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, MP and son of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy to lead the destiny of the state for the benefit of the party. In a letter addressed to Ms Gandhi, Mr Reddy said the general perception amongst the people in Andhra Pradesh is that Mr Jagan can fill the void and with the support of senior leaders and blessings of the High Command, will be able to steer the party and the government out of the present desolation. The MPs positive approach, youthfulness and the legacy of his father will, undoubtedly be an asset to the Congress and the government, he added He said at this critical juncture, it is essential for the incumbent to continue the welfare programmes with zeal and enthusiasm, as promised in the Congress manifesto under the leadership of Ms Gandhi. The former Speaker said as a dedicated soldier of the Congress party he is confident that Mr Jagan will be acceptale to the senior leaders of the party, since the dynamic youth is expected to act as a catalyst amongst various sections of the Congress party
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YSR chopper crash: Probes not ’parallel or contradictory’

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Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah today maintained that the investigations into the September 2 helicopter crash, in which late Chief Minister Y S Rajaekhara Reddy and four others died, were ’not parallel or contradictory in nature’. He told reporters here the different agencies entrusted with the investigation would look into different aspects of the mishap. The findings of one organisation would also be passed on to other organisations for better understanding of the reasons for the crash, he said. The state government had urged the Centre to order a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation as it was the appropriate agency to deal with such a mishap. It was only to remove doubts among public on various aspects of the crash that the state government had also constituted a two-member expert team to look into all aspects of the crash
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YSR’s son trying to display leadership qualities?

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In what is seen as an attempt to display his leadership skills, Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, the son of late Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Tuesday urged people to pay tribute to his father by voting for the Congress party.
Sitting in front of a portrait of his father, the young MP made an appeal to voters in the Tekkali assembly constituency - going for by-elections Thursday - not only to help Congress retain the seat but also to vote for the party in the 2014 elections.
Jagan, as the Kadapa MP is popularly known, made the appeal amid a growing demand from his supporters in the party to make him the next chief minister.
Reiterating YSR’s words a couple of days before his tragic death in a helicopter crash on Sep 2, Jagan said the Congress would retain power in the 2014 polls and Rahul Gandhi would become the prime minister.
With folded hands, the 37-year-old Jagan appealed to people to strengthen the party under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi by casting their votes in favour of the party.
"We have to carry forward the vision and policies of the late leader," said Jagan.
The bye-election from the Tekkali assembly constituency in Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra is being held Thursday to fill the vacancy created by the death of K. Revatipathi of the Congress party on June 2. He died a few days after the assembly elections and a day before he was to take oath as legislator.
Jagan’s appeal is being seen as an attempt to counter some other contenders to the chief minister’s post who claim he lacks political experience.
His supporters argue that he may have been elected to the Lok Sabha for the first time, but he had leadership qualities and was quite active in Kadapa district politics for the last few years.
This is the second time after his father’s death that Jagan has appeared on television channels to make an appeal. On Sep 4, before the burial of YSR, Jagan had made an emotional appeal to YSR’s followers and fans not to commit suicide.
He also issued a written statement Sep 6, urging his supporters to halt a campaign in his favour and wait for the decision of the party’s central leadership.
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Jagan camp plays sentiment card, claims support of 148 MLAs

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The post-YSR succession story might have got complicated with the dead chief minister’s loyalists likely to shift their campaign for Jagan Mohan Reddy installing his son Jagan Mohan Reddy to Delhi and the party high command not keen to be hustled into taking what will be a crucial political call.

Perhaps with the objective of allowing emotions to subside, the party high command has taken the position that it will deal with the succession issue only after the mourning period ends even as it keenly assesses the situation in the state. The momentum to make Jagan the CM has not ebbed so far, and Congress is keeping a wary eye on developments.

By swiftly swearing-in veteran K Rosaiah, the leadership has certainly bought itself some time and going by the look of things, the 77-year-old leader could have to hold fort for a while till the Congress leadership sorts out the claims in the state in the wake of a large power vacuum caused by the death of YSR.

The Congress leadership is genuinely desirous of keeping the interests of YSR’s family in mind given the tragic nature of his demise and proximity to 10, Janpath, but it is wary of an impression being created that it was served a fait accompli. It is also keen that the Andhra Pradesh unit does not break down into warring factions as was often the scene before the late CM consolidated his hold on power after 2004.

The charge of the YSR brigade is, however, likely to create a ticklish situation as it will inevitably have the shades of a "state versus Centre" conflict. This could mean the high command has to accommodate Jagan Reddy even as it hunts for an acceptable face. This dilemma is acute as there is no clear choice in sight.

Factions who were opposed to YSR and shut out of the scene completely were quick to claim that the campaign for Jagan was being "stage-managed" by persons, including a Rajya Sabha MP, close to the dead leader. They said no "senior" MP was keen to associate with the campaign. But one of them did agree that there was no other easily identifiable choice and that younger MLAs and MPs had veered towards the son.

Congress leadership is also thinking hard of the consequences of putting a young Jagan Reddy in the CM’s chair. He may find out that he has bitten rather more than anticipated while others ran the show. In the circumstances, it would be useful to persevere with Rosaiah till it was possible to arrive at a calmer decision.

The visit of Congress chief Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to the bereaved family, besides a clutch of central leaders, shows that the show of solidarity with the family could help deal with the succession issue.

Sources said the leadership was still to apply its mind to the issue but the two emissaries on the ground, Union ministers and AICC leaders Prithviraj Chavan and Veerappa Moily, have gained a sense of the mood after YSR’s exit from the scene. The preparations will be made accordingly.

Congress is looking for a blend of seniority and loyalty, a combination which goes against Jagan Reddy. It has sought to downplay the campaign in favour of his installation as CM in Hyderabad, calling it an "emotional outburst" to avoid having to take a serious look against it.

That the Centre does not take a favourable view of the Jagan-as-CM campaign came out when AICC spokesman Shakeel Ahmed on Friday called it a "moment of tragedy and mourning" while advising "there should not be any politics on it".

With few genuine replacements at hand, insiders don’t rule out giving a more than "interim arrangement" form to Rosaiah. Sources said a failure to find an acceptable face could see the old hand hang on to the hot seat. His hailing from a "neutral" Vaishya caste outside the contending Reddy and Kamma communities is seen as a soothing factor on the volatile turf.

There is always the option of accommodating Jagan Reddy at the Centre, something he may not be averse to in his bid to consolidate his father’s political legacy. The young son has both the family’s political and business interests to protect.

With the iron hand of YSR gone, the fear of rival lobbies reviving is bound to play on the minds of the leadership. While it is seen as an effective way of cancelling out the pro-Jagan lobby, there are concerns if a future leader would be able to ensure that the state unit remained united behind the new CM.
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I am not happy to be CM: Rosaiah

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Chief Minister K Rosaiah seems to be reconciled to the fact that he might not continue in the post for a long time and would have to pave way, most probably to Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.

Though he might have the ambition of holding the CM post for some more time, Rosaiah is taking every care that it does not reflect either in his face or his words. He is very choosy in making statements on this issue.

While saying that he would abide by the decision of the high command, Rosaiah told media persons on Saturday that he was not at all happy to be in the hot seat. “I have reluctantly occupied the chair, after the sad demise of Rajasekhara Reddy. I have no desire to continue in this seat for a long time. It requires great courage and conviction to carry the legacy of YSR. I don’t think I have it,” he said.
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