Hyderabad, Sept 21:
Despite the Congress High Command sending strong signals to the leaders of the State unit of the party that a decision on the change of guard is not on its priority list, lobbying is still on in Hyderabad to press the candidature of Mr Jaganmohan Reddy, the son of late chief minister, Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, for the top slot.
On Monday, some Ministers in the Rosaiah Cabinet, divided into two groups and met at two different places in the city. While a couple Ministers chose to meet at the residence of Dr K V P Ramachandra Rao, the close aide of the late leader, others closeted themselves at the residence of Mr K Kesav Rao, senior Congress leader and former Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) chief.
A group of Cabinet Ministers, Mr Ponnala Lakshmaiah (Minister for Major Irrigation) and Mr Manikya Vara Prasad (Secondary Education) besides former minister, the alter ego of the late leader. The ministers are stated to have dwelt at length on the immediate need to make Mr Jaganmohan Mohan Reddy as the chief minister.
They also have discussed the current political situation in the State – post YSR – and the problems being aced by the people in different Assembly segments in the State. “The issue that was top on their agenda was mounting pressure on the High Command to take a decision in favour of Mr Jagan to the coveted post,” sources here said.
Mr Jagan is currently camping at Idupulapaya in Kadapa district, the home turf and the favourite spot of the late chief minister, Dr Rajasekhara Reddy. The late leader was buried at the place and Mr Jagan is now on a visit to the area. He will continue his stay there till Thursday.
In another meeting, the Minister for Rural Development, Mr Vatti Vasantha Kumar, the Minister for Panchayat Raj, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, and the former ministers, Mr J C Diwakar Reddy and Mr Jana Reddy, held confabulations at the residence of former PCC chief and Congress Working Committee (CWC) member, Mr K Kesav Rao.
After an hour-long meeting, Mr Kesav Rao told media persons that the High Command will take an appropriate decision at an appropriate time on the post to be offered to Mr Jagan. He dismissed the theory that a section of media is playing a role in scuttling the chances of Mr Jagan.
‘The media is only trying for some sensational stories but can never play any role whatsoever in influencing the High Command’s decision, whether in favour or against Mr Jagan,” he stated. Mr Kesav Rao is of the opinion that some Ministers are walking into the trap laid by the Opposition and are making such statements.
These two meetings apart, some party seniors too are holding series of discussions among themselves on the possible choice of the High Command – whether Mr Rosaiah will be continued in the saddle for some more time or change the guard in near future and if so whether it is Mr Jagan.