Hyderabad, September 3
Even before Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s body could reach the state capital, a campaign has been launched by a vociferous section of the state Congress to make his son and MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy the next Chief Minister.
Over 120 legislators, out of a total of 155, have signed a letter addressed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi urging her to nominate the 36-year-old first-time MP for the post.
Jagan, a controversial industrialist, was recently elected from Kadapa constituency, the family stronghold, which was earlier represented by his father for four terms.
Several ministers and MPs have also come out in the open to root for Jagan’s candidature. More than half the 35-member cabinet has gone on record saying that Jagan would be their choice for successor.
“Jagan is ideally suited to uphold his father’s legacy and carry forward the welfare programmes,” Backward Classes Welfare Minister Mukesh Goud said.
Several younger leaders in the Cabinet, including D Sridhar, P Satyanarayana, V Vasanth Kumar and P Balaraju, said they were fully in favour of Jagan taking over the reins of the state. They said they would impress upon the high command to make him the next Chief Minister.
Even senior ministers like A Ramanarayana Reddy and N Raghuveera Reddy said the state needs a strong and effective leadership to carry on the various welfare and developmental programmes launched YSR Reddy. They said this would be possible if Jagan was entrusted the responsibility.
The senior-most member in the cabinet, K Rosaiah, was sworn in as the caretaker Chief Minister at the Raj Bhavan. Before taking the oath, he told reporters categorically that he was not in the race for being a full fledged CM. Rosaiah, the septuagenarian leader who holds finance portfolio, carries vast experience and clean image but lacks popular base.
Life after YSR is bound to be turbulent and shaky for the state Congress. It is widely known in political circles that YSR wanted to groom his son as his political heir.
In fact, Kadapa Lok Sabha seat was vacated by YSR’s younger brother YS Vivekananda Reddy to pave way for his nephew’s political entry from the home turf.
Jagan has often been the target of attack by opposition parties for alleged irregularities in his business deals and the enormous clout he enjoyed in the government. He has businesses interests in infrastructure and power. He owns a Telugu newspaper, ‘Sakshi’, and a TV channel of the same name.
