Jagan as CM? Sonia wants Jagan is Suitable Person for CM for AP

NEW DELHI: The political weather in Andhra Pradesh is likely to remain uncertain for a while longer as a wary Congress leadership prepared itself for a long haul, closely following moves of YSR loyalists running a campaign to make the late leader's son Jagan Mohan Reddy as CM.

The high command is keen to make an exact assessment of the support for Jagan in the legislature group even as Andhra Pradesh MPs look likely to bring their case to Delhi. Though the leadership expressed its "satisfaction" over the appeal issued by Jagan on Sunday asking his supporters to call off their campaign, the point is likely to be driven home to key YSR loyalists like K V P Ramachandra Rao who has been called to Delhi.

In Hyderabad, ministers seen to be loyal to Jagan met Rao ahead of his departure for Delhi. There were reports of a team of senior leaders being deputed to visit Hyderabad, but senior Congress sources said there were no such plans at present. "Any leader who goes there now will be doing so as a condolence call," said a central leader.

The high command emphasis remains in allowing the "heated" political situation to calm down. "A big leader has fallen, the emotions will not ebb immediately," sources said. Congress is likely to take a call on whether to send a delegation to Hyderabad only after a couple of days. There are concerns that a premature move will only spark off renewed lobbying with the central team inundated by representations and demonstrations.

The issue of Jagan's support among MLAs has figured in discussions held by the party leadership. While the party has almost certainly decided to ignore Jagan for the top post given his lack of experience, what is troubling the managers is the 47 first-time MLAs and 58 Reddys in assembly. The situation looks more precarious when seen in the light that Congress has a meagre majority of seven MLAs.

Congress high command has been thinking hard over the 'Telugu self-respect' factor that could come into play if the Jagan-for-CM campaign is not handled sensitively. This is even as as functionary said, "No leadership would agree to work under pressure."

If numbers are a worry, MPs are now arriving in Delhi. Sources said they have even begun to seek appointments with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi to push their case. A close YSR aide and MP Arun Kumar met the party chief on Monday.

Another MP Keshav Rao also met her and is understood to have conveyed his disapproval of the boisterous campaign.
While it is felt that Jagan is unlikely to defy a central decision on YSR's successor, it is realised that his sulking would spoil the balance Congress achieved during YSR regime. This means that Jagan's wishes would have to be taken into account on a successor even if he is to be overlooked and this means likely accommodation of the Reddy lobby.

A day after Jagan's appeal to his supporters to leave the leadership issue to Sonia, Congress brass is learnt to have got fresh feedback from ground zero. The immediate query revolves around how many MLAs are with YSR's son. At the same time, the reasons for their loyalty are also being looked into for working on them.

Sources said the prevailing mood in state may push the leadership to settle for an MLA instead of sending someone from Delhi. The party worries are two-fold. While there is a confidence that Jagan can be brought around, there is a fear that any instability could immediately put the party on the defensive, making it vulnerable to brinkmanship. The party will use its powers of persuasion to win over Jagan, arguing that his long-term interests lie in accepting a lesser job than CM, perhaps at the Centre. The party is aware that it must tread carefully in the post-YSR landscape with a N Chandrababu Naidu seeing a glimmer of hope. This leaves the possibility of a neutral Rosaiah continuing for longer than an interim arrangement.

The task of reading the situation on ground and gravitating MLAs towards an acceptable name may fall on veteran Pranab Mukherjee. Veerappa Moily, AICC incharge of state, and Digvijay Singh, who handled it as general secretary before Moily, are likely to play a role too.

Digvijay Singh, who was in Hyderabad on Sunday to offer his condolences to the YSR family, it is learnt, sought to impress upon Jagan the need for patience. He reportedly returned to Delhi with the impression that the 'self-respect' factor could snowball. He met Sonia on Monday.