At the same time, though the AICC is not keen to give into the demand that Jagan should be made the chief minister, they will assuage the feelings of YSR loyalists by making him a minister at the Centre.
The Congress high command is understood to have made it clear to the pro-Jagan camp in Hyderabad that it would not bow down to pressure. However, expressing its full confidence in him as a future leader, the party leadership has told his confidants that a senior leader suggested by his followers would be considered for the post.
The party is also unlikely to choose anyone from the MPs for the post and it may fall back on a senior legislator. “It is only logical and expected that some one from the state legislature is chosen as the chief minister,” an AICC general secretary said on condition of anonymity.
“Several MPs (who were speculated to be interested in the post) have told me they are not in the race,” the Congress leader said. The names of Union ministers Jaipal Reddy, Purandeshwari and Pallam Raju had cropped up as potential contenders the post.
Party sources said Rosaiah may continue as chief minister as he is non-controversial and does not represent any group. He is acceptable to the Jagan group also. The high command is said to have conveyed to the AP leaders that it is considering these proposals in the interests of the Congress in the state as well as Jagan himself, whom it sees as a long term asset in AP. It sees him as one who has no political or administrative experience and wants him to gain both while being at the Centre before being pushed into state politics.
To convey its views on AP politics, the high command is likely to dispatch senior leader Pranab Mukherjee to Hyderabad either in the weekend or next week. Party’s AP in-charge Veerappa Moily or Union minister Ghulam Nabi Azad may accompany him. Briefly talking to the media in the morning, Ahmed Patel, political secretary to party president Sonia Gandhi, said the Congress will take its decisions as per its rules and traditions and no one can bring pressure on the high command. The party maintains that all options are open.
The AICC is also said to have taken a serious view of the tactic adopted by YSR followers, who did not allow party leaders to address condolence meetings. Several party leaders from AP called on Sonia Gandhi here on Monday. Former APCC chief K Keshava Rao and Lok Sabha member Arun Kumar were among them.
Rao is now an AICC general secretary and is believed to have already aired within the party his unhappiness over the public campaign by Reddy’s loyalists to put his son in the CM’s chair. Arun Kumar, a known YSR loyalist is, however, a supporter of Jagan.
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