Political Diary

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

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.

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.

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.

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.