Jagan asks supporters to stop campaign

"I request everyone with folded hands to stop such activities by going to the media, signature campaigns, using of banners, placards demonstrations for my leadership as the successor of our beloved departed leader as this is not the time or the occasion.

"On my part, like my father, I am duty bound to be a loyal and disciplined Congress worker. We are in mourning with deep heart. As a disciplined soldier of the Congress Party it gives pain to the soul of our beloved leader," he said.

Asking party workers to abide by the high command's decision, 36-year-old Jagan said party chief Sonia Gandhi respects public perception and feelings of lakhs of Congress Party workers and will take a decision in such a way that his father Rajasekhara Reddy's ideals, mission and zeal would not be compromised.

"Our high command knows and more particularly our beloved leader Sonia Gandhi respects the public perception and feelings of lakhs of Congress Party workers and she knows too well what is good for all of us and what is good for our state and people," Jagan, who arrived here today from Idupulapaya, two days after last rites for his late father, said.

"It is really a tribute to Late Rajiv Gandhi that he could spot talent in my father and it was late Ms Indira Gandhi, who appointed him at the age of 33 year as the President of APCC," Jagan said.

"It is equally important to note that Ms Sonia Gandhi had chosen my father as President of APCC in 1998, as Leader of Opposition in 1999, as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in 2004 and 2009."

He said the family was moved by the extraordinary affection and love shown by all. But "we are greatly pained to see hundreds of people losing their lives unable to bear the untimely demise of their most beloved leader", he said while referring to reports to some people committing suicide in the state.

"We cannot afford to lose our heart and become panicky," he said, adding the best way of paying tribute "is by carrying on his mantle and by making sure that all his programmes and ideologies are carried on and completed".

Jagan said in his message that during the last meeting of the party August 27, his my father clearly mentioned that his main task and dream is to make the Congress Party to form the government on its own in 2014 general elections and to make Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister of the country.

"Every Congress worker knows that it is the tradition of party to leave the decision of leadership to the high command and our beloved leader Ms Sonia Gandhi," the message said.