However, the high command has indicated that it will take at least one week to finalise the successor when the Congress Legislature Party is scheduled to meet. Pro-Jagan sources here believe that only his son would be able to fill the over-sized shoes of YSR considering the huge task in front of the potential candidate. The campaign is gathering steam with nearly half the 34-member cabinet, 20 out of 33 MPs and 122 out of 155 Congress legislators declaring that they want Jaganmohan as the new chief minister. This, they believe would be the best tribute to YSR.

At least one Congress leader, Minister Ramachandra Reddy threatened to split the party if the demand was not accepted. “If he (Jagan) is not made CLP leader we will not hesitate to quit the party and take away a majority of party MLAs,” he said. A major contender and state Congress president D Srinivas has said he had no objection to Jagan as CM.

Repaying debt

Almost all those rooting for Jagan are hardcore loyalists of YSR and some of them were given tickets and cabinet berths as they were handpicked by Jagan. They believe their career would be furthered only with Jagan at the helm of affairs. They also believe that Jagan would be the ideal person to carry forward YSR’s policies, especially for the poor and the backward people. They also believe Jagan is as strong and efficient a leader as YSR. At least one first-time minister and a known acolyte of YSR said the best way he could repay his debt to YSR was by making Jagan the CM.

However, Congress high command’s emissary to YSR’s funeral Prithviraj Chauhan said this demand would be taken into consideration even as the opinion of seniors in the party would be weighed in.  “This is not the right time for such things (to be raised),” he told a news channel here on Friday. “Today is a day of mourning. Don’t bring politics,” he said.

He pointed out that there was a clear-cut procedure to be followed in these matters and it would be followed. “After consulting with the seniors in the state party , the high command will take a decision,” he said.

Spate of deaths follow YSR’s

About 60 people are reported to have died, either from shock or by committing suicide, unable to bear the loss of Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, reports DHNS from Hyderabad. This prompted YRS’ son Jaganmohan Reddy brother Y S Vivekananda Reddy to appeal to the people not to take their lives.