JOIN USYSR son may have to wait
While M Veerappa Moily, in charge of the party afffairs in Andhra Pradesh, has said a decision in this regard would be taken after the mourning period ends — which is Wednesday — the party high command is said to have made it clear to YSR confidant and adviser to the state government K V P Ramachandra Rao in Delhi on Tuesday that Jagan will have to wait.
In all likelihood, the party high command will continue with K Rosaiah as the chief minister in view of his non-controversial status and his acceptability to all groups in the party.
Party sources said KVP, during his meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in Delhi on Tuesday, had been clearly told that the ‘Jagan as CM’ campaign was in bad taste, inappropriate and injudicious. The party sources maintain that the vociferous threats and dharnas and hunger strikes by Jagan’s supporters did not go down well with the high command and it seemed to dilute its authority.
Jagan himself once again appealed to his supporters to leave the issue to the high command. Addressing a massive condolence meeting in memory of YSR in Kadapa on Tuesday, Jagan said, “I request you with folded hands not to (resort to pressure tactics)... the party high command will take a decision that will be in everybody’s best interests.”
No respite
However, there was no respite from demands of Jagan’s supporters to appoint him CM. Across the state, groups organised various activities to send a message to the high command. They fed the poor, organised rallies, relay hunger strikes, and climbed temple steps on knees to appease gods. Several municipal councillors in Anantapur put in their papers in protest.
Meanwhile, YSR’s brother Y S Vivekananda Reddy also spoke up for Jagan. “We hope that the high command will understand the sentiments of the party legislators while taking a decision. There is a feeling in the party that Jagan alone can do justice to the policies (of YSR) by continuing them,” he said.
Vivekananda Reddy vacated the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat to accommodate Jagan in the recent elections. He had earlier stepped into YSR’s shoes as MP from Kadapa after his brother decided to focus on state politics.