Hyderabad: Ministers in Andhra Pradesh loyal to late chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy are confident that the central leadership of Congress party will name his son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy as the next chief minister.
They got the impression after meeting K V P Ramachandra Rao, a close friend and advisor of the late chief minister, on Tuesday that the central leadership was positively inclined towards naming 37-year-old Jagan as YSR's successor.
"We hope that the central leadership will take an appropriate decision at an appropriate time. We are confident that it would keep the sentiments of people and people's representatives in mind while taking a decision," said Minister for Small Scale Industries D K Aruna.
State Health Minister D Nagender told reporters that the decision of the central leadership on YSR's successor would be final and that the ministers would abide by it.
"The high command will also decide when the Congress Legislature Party will meet to elect a new leader," he said.
Nagender, who has already stated that they were ready to make any sacrifice to see Jagan as chief minister, hoped that the leadership would make an announcement after elections in Maharashtra.
Ramachandra Rao, on his return from New Delhi, briefed state ministers about the outcome of his talks with the central leaders. KVP, as he is popularly known in the political circles, told ministers that the leadership would take some time before deciding on the successor to YSR.
"We shared information. They wanted to know the information I had and I got the information they had," KVP told reporters after the meeting.
KVP, also a Rajya Sabha member, was camping in New Delhi for the last few days to lobby for Jagan as chief minister. He informed the ministers the outcome of his talks with party president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee and Party General Secretary M Veerappa Moily, who is incharge of party affairs in the state.
Ten out of 34 ministers met KVP, who is also an advisor to the state government. Government Chief Whip Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, who is mobilising support for Jagan among legislators, was also present.
Almost all ministers and majority of state legislators and MPs want to see Jagan, a first time MP, as the next chief minister. The leadership has held consultations with a cross section of MPs and senior party leaders but has not yet taken a decision.
Pranab Mukherjee has already hinted that the leadership would take the Jagan factor into consideration while taking a decision.
YSR and four others died in a helicopter crash September 2 in the dense Nallamalla forests in Kurnool district. State Finance Minister K Rosaiah was sworn in as chief minister the next day but the leadership stated that it was only a temporary arrangement.
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