Rosaiah, Jagan meet Sonia
A meeting of the AP Congress Legislature Party is likely to be convened soon to seal the leadership issue but there is no immediate possibility of the State Cabinet being reconstituted.
This appears to be the essence of the discussions held by Chief Minister K Rosaiah with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi as part of his day-long visit to Delhi, his first since his swearing-in two months ago.
As he faced his first press conference in the national capital as the Chief Minister, Rosaiah looked quite confident brushing aside threat to his leadership and leaving none in doubt that the Congress high command fully backed him.
At the same time, he did not appear to be in a hurry to axe some of the ministers who have been singing the tune of late YSR’s son, Jagan Mohan Reddy, who, incidentally had a separate meeting with Sonia during the day along with his family members including his mother, Vijayalakshmi.
‘‘Soniaji feels the need to convene a meeting of the CLP in the context of the PIL filed in the High Court (the petition questioned the validity of Rosaiah's chief ministership as he hasn't been elected by the CLP). She may convey the date to us,’’ Rosaiah said, responding to queries from newsmen.
However, an immediate reconstitution of the Cabinet appeared unlikely. ‘‘This is my first visit to Delhi and I thought it was inappropriate to raise such issues with the party chief. However, if the need arises, I shall consult the leadership and act accordingly,’’ the Chief Minister said, not ruling out a Cabinet reshuffle altogether.
On its part, the leadership seems to be of the view that it would be better to wait for some time before the exercise is taken up for two reasons.
One, Rosaiah should get a grip over the administration and two, it should quell the scope for any rebellion in the event of some ministers being dropped. Rosaiah replied in his typical fashion when asked if his ministers had been cooperative: ‘‘They are doing to the extent required.’’ The implied message was not lost — he is not happy with some of them but would wait for them to toe his line.
The Chief Minister has also been reportedly told to take along all groups with him to the extent possible so that a confrontation could be avoided. A similar message seems to have been conveyed to Jagan: He should check his men from crossing the line, failing which the high command would be compelled to initiate action.
Asked if Sonia enquired about the activities of ministers and MLAs close to Jagan, Rosaiah said he had briefed her about the happenings and declined to divulge anything more. ‘‘Any party leadership expects us to work unitedly and this is what we were told even today,’’ the Chief Minister said. The by-election to Pulivendula constituency to fill the vacancy caused by YSR’s death mainly figured during the talks Sonia had with the late chief minister’s family members.
Many Congressmen are not comfortable with the possibility of Jagan himself pitching for the party nomination while they are not averse to someone else in the family being given the seat.
That appears to be the reason why Sonia has chosen to meet the entire family and not Jagan alone.
A meeting of the AP Congress Legislature Party is likely to be convened soon to seal the leadership issue but there is no immediate possibility of the State Cabinet being reconstituted.
This appears to be the essence of the discussions held by Chief Minister K Rosaiah with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi as part of his day-long visit to Delhi, his first since his swearing-in two months ago.
As he faced his first press conference in the national capital as the Chief Minister, Rosaiah looked quite confident brushing aside threat to his leadership and leaving none in doubt that the Congress high command fully backed him.
At the same time, he did not appear to be in a hurry to axe some of the ministers who have been singing the tune of late YSR’s son, Jagan Mohan Reddy, who, incidentally had a separate meeting with Sonia during the day along with his family members including his mother, Vijayalakshmi.
‘‘Soniaji feels the need to convene a meeting of the CLP in the context of the PIL filed in the High Court (the petition questioned the validity of Rosaiah's chief ministership as he hasn't been elected by the CLP). She may convey the date to us,’’ Rosaiah said, responding to queries from newsmen.
However, an immediate reconstitution of the Cabinet appeared unlikely. ‘‘This is my first visit to Delhi and I thought it was inappropriate to raise such issues with the party chief. However, if the need arises, I shall consult the leadership and act accordingly,’’ the Chief Minister said, not ruling out a Cabinet reshuffle altogether.
On its part, the leadership seems to be of the view that it would be better to wait for some time before the exercise is taken up for two reasons.
One, Rosaiah should get a grip over the administration and two, it should quell the scope for any rebellion in the event of some ministers being dropped. Rosaiah replied in his typical fashion when asked if his ministers had been cooperative: ‘‘They are doing to the extent required.’’ The implied message was not lost — he is not happy with some of them but would wait for them to toe his line.
The Chief Minister has also been reportedly told to take along all groups with him to the extent possible so that a confrontation could be avoided. A similar message seems to have been conveyed to Jagan: He should check his men from crossing the line, failing which the high command would be compelled to initiate action.
Asked if Sonia enquired about the activities of ministers and MLAs close to Jagan, Rosaiah said he had briefed her about the happenings and declined to divulge anything more. ‘‘Any party leadership expects us to work unitedly and this is what we were told even today,’’ the Chief Minister said. The by-election to Pulivendula constituency to fill the vacancy caused by YSR’s death mainly figured during the talks Sonia had with the late chief minister’s family members.
Many Congressmen are not comfortable with the possibility of Jagan himself pitching for the party nomination while they are not averse to someone else in the family being given the seat.
That appears to be the reason why Sonia has chosen to meet the entire family and not Jagan alone.
