Jagan, Rosaiah war of words hots up
pioneer.com
Omer Farooq | Hyderabad
CM on offensive, says ‘I am here to stay’
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The ruling Congress party in Andhra Pradesh, in the grip of uncertainty and confusion since the sudden death of YS Rajasekhara Reddy, seems to be heading towards a major confrontation between the supporters and opponents of his son Jagan Reddy as for the first time the incumbent Chief Minister K Rosaiah has made it clear that he intends to stay and fight back.
He not only made it clear that he was no “interim Chief Minister” but a full-fledged Chief Minister and if any Minister had any objection to his leadership, he or she was free to leave the Cabinet. “If these people (dissidents) can’t wait for the decision of the high command, they are free to leave. Nobody will stop them. They can resign, can go their way and do what they want,” Rosaiah said.
“As far as my knowledge goes, the Indian Constitution does not have any provision for an interim, temporary or caretaker Chief Minister. If a person takes the oath as the Chief Minister he is a Chief Minister. If a person takes the oath as Minister, he is Minister. If a CM is caretaker, will the Ministers be caretaker or permanent,” Rosaiah wondered.
He indicated that he would soon be going to Delhi for consultations with the Congress high command and would go by their advice on the issues like reshuffle or expansion of the Cabinet.
Rosaiah’s stern stand evoked immediate reaction from Jagan camp and at least one Minister – Konda Surekha from Warangal — announced that she would quit if Jagan is not be made the Chief Minister and Rosaiah continues in the position.
The sudden and surprising assertion by Rosaiah came a day after Jagan Reddy’s supporters went berserk and burnt two buses in Rajahmundry and ransacked the office of Congress party in Anantpur district demanding Jagan’s immediate installation as the Chief Minister.
They also left the party thoroughly shocked by tearing down a big poster with AICC President Sonia Gandhi’s poster in Khammam district office and burning it in full public view.
The incident provided an opening to the anti-Jagan leaders of the party to launch a counter-offensive. Senior leaders like G Venkatswamy, V Hanumantha Rao and K Keshav Rao strongly condemned the incident as an insult to Sonia Gandhi. In a swift action, State Congress president D Srinivas suspended four party workers in connection with the incident. Rosaiah also condemned the incident and spoke to Sonia to express his regrets. The State police have also booked a case in this regard.
The violent incidents allegedly involving Jagan’s supporters has provided a rallying point to the State Congress leaders of other groups who have now for the first time come out openly in support of Rosaiah.
V Hanumantha Rao after meeting Rosaiah said that he will remain Chief Minister till 2014 when the next election was due. When asked whether it will not be going against the people’s wishes, Hanumantha Rao quipped, “We know what the people wish and whose side they are. The people’s wish cannot be bigger than Sonia Gandhi’s decision. Whoever is blessed by Sonia will be the leader,” he said,
Meanwhile the Congress workers belonging to various other camps also held protest demonstrations all over the State against the incident of burning of Sonia posters. In Hyderabad, a demonstration was held in the State party headquarters Gandhi Bhavan. State minority cell president Sirajuddin who led the demonstration said the people who insulted Sonia were trying to challenge the authority of the party high command.
Jagan camp on the other hand was not in a mood to take it lying down. Jogi Ramesh, MLA and Jagan follower questioned the authority of Hanumantha Rao in declaring that Rosaiah will remain the Chief Minister till 2014. He said the senior leaders should stop making such provocative statements.
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While it looks like the decision has almost been made at the Congress central command that it is going to be Rosaiah who would be heading the state as the chief minister until further notice, there seems to be a small current that is growing in the camp of Y S Jagan.
The talk in circles is that Jagan might soon be heading a new party and the interesting thing is, the Praja Rajyam Party is likely to be merging with this new YS congress if high command still delays. It is said that Chiranjeevi has been showing positive signs of merging PRP with Jagan led Congress.
On the other hand, Jagan is also said to be positive about welcoming Chiru if he wishes and the coming months will reveal what will the situation be like. Meanwhile, the political experts say that under the current position, this is the best move that Chiru can make before he gets humiliated further.
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