Rahul says Y S Jagan has 'significant achievements'

As his party grapples with the issue of succession in Andhra Pradesh, the Congress general secretary Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's son Jaganmohan has had "significant achievements".

"He (Jaganmohan) is not only the son of a politican but also has significant achievements," he said but did not elaborate.

Mr. Gandhi was asked about the "clamour" among supporters of Jaganmohan Reddy for appointment of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Rajinikanth most welcome to join Cong

Mr. Rahul Gandhi also said that the Tamil superstar Rajinikanth was welcome to join the party.

"He is most welcome to come. We don't put any roadblocks," Mr. Gandhi told reporters here.

The Congress had an 'open system'. "The party was ready to welcome anyone so long as that person is not a criminal," he said.

"Our system is open to anybody who wants to enter it. The only barrier we put is the barrier of criminality," the Congress leader, whose visit to Tamil Nadu is seen as an effort to rejuvenate the party apparatus in the state and woo the youth, said.

"However, we are not reaching out to any particular person."

Rajinikanth has not revealed his mind on his political inclinations but his fans want him to float a party. Though he has kept off politics, he has had meetings with top national leaders, including BJP leader L K Advani who called on the actor early this year, sparking speculations.

On reports about popular Tamil actor Vijay evincing interest in joining Congress, Mr. Gandhi reacted, "when we started this open system process, Vijay expressed interest in understanding our process and we explained our process to him".

Not in favour of interlinking of rivers

He said he was against the idea of interlinking of rivers as it would have "severe" environmental implications.

"It is a disastrous idea. It is an idea that will be extremely dangerous to the environment of the country," he told reporters here.

"I personally won't support this idea. I am of the view that nature is very, very powerful and I think it is not a good idea to play with the nature on a massive scale".

When it was pointed out that the political leaders in Tamil Nadu were supporting river linking projects, he said, they were supporting such projects at the state level.

Interlinking of rivers at the national level to combat water scarcity was mooted by many leaders and the idea was endorsed by former President A P J Abdul Kalam.

To a question on inter-state water disputes, especially between Tamil Nadu and its neighbouring states, Mr. Gandhi said, the states concerned should mutually sort out the issue

YSR death: Kotagiri knows the reason

Who is responsible for the helicopter crash resulting in the death of former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and four others?

According to senior Praja Rajyam Party leader Kotagiri Vidyadhara Rao, the helicopter crash took place because of the negligence of pilot K S Bhatia. “Not many people know about Bhatia. He already retired from his service, but was reappointed in the state following the recommendation of a state minister and Chief Secretary. Bhatia was known for his negligent piloting of aircraft and received several memos for his rash driving, exceeding the speed limits,” Kotagiri said.

He recalled that it was Bhatia, who almost crash landed the helicopter carrying Buddhist guru Dalai Lama in the past. “The government should probe into the aspect of why Bhatia was engaged in running YSR’s helicopter. It should also suspend the minister and the CS, who had recommended Bhatia’s appointment even after his retirement,” Kotagiri demanded.

KSR Murthy into Congress?

Stage is set for the entry of former bureaucrat and ex-MP K S R Murthy into the Congress.

Murthy, who played a crucial role in the establishment of Praja Rajyam Party by megastar Chiranjeevi, made a quiet exit from the PRP after the elections. On Thursday, he met Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas and “discussed the political situation” in the state. He is learnt to have told the PCC president that he would support the latter’s candidature for PM post since he felt it should go the BCs.

Later, Murthy told media persons that there was no democratic set up in the PRP and several irregularities took place in the distribution of tickets during the elections. “I am planning to join the Congress very soon,” he said.

No, we are attending duties: Ministers

Ministers in the state cabinet on Thursday denied the reports that they were not discharging their duties and not cooperating with Chief Minister K Rosaiah. Apparently, their reluctance to do their normal work unless Y S Jaganmohan Reddy becomes the Chief Minister, was taken seriously by the Congress high command. Almost all the English dailies in Hyderabad and Delhi wrote stories about the ministers’ non-cooperation movement in the state. Surprisingly, the ministers did not give any clarification to the media personally. Instead, the Congress Legislature Party issued a press release on their behalf, stating that the reports that they were not attending the review meetings chaired by Rosaiah were totally baseless and far from truth. They clarified that after the sudden demise of Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, they had to visit their respective constituencies, conduct condolence meetings and console the grief of the public. “Ministers who are available in Hyderabad have attended the office and review meetings chaired by Mr Rosaiah,” they clarified.

Efforts to find YSR's successor climax

Political activity aimed at finding a successor to late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy reached a climax Thursday with Congress legislators rushing here anticipating a meeting to elect a new leader.

With the seven-day mourning period ending Wednesday, hectic efforts are on in both New Delhi and Hyderabad to pick a new chief minister.

The legislators started arriving here on the direction of ministers in charge of their respective districts who are confident that the Congress will name YSR’s 37-year-old son and Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy the post of next chief minister.

The Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting is likely to be held in a few days to elect the new leader. YSR loyalists claim to have the support of 152 out of 154 assembly members to make Jagan the chief minister.

Party sources said the CLP meeting would elect Jagan as the leader in the presence of party’s central observers, who would then convey the choice to party president Sonia Gandhi for a formal announcement.

The sources have not ruled out the possibility of the CLP authorising Sonia Gandhi to take a decision after getting a firm assurance that Jagan would be named the leader.

This way, no one would feel that the central leadership had to bow to pressure from YSR loyalists.

YSR’s long-time advisor and friend K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, who is lobbying for Jagan, is camping in New Delhi for the third straight day Thursday. He has met Congress leader and Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee.

Ramachandra Rao, a Rajya Sabha member, has met Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, party general secretary in-charge of Andhra Pradesh M. Veerappa Moily and told them that the Congress would gain immensely by naming Jagan as chief minister.

Known as an astute strategist in political circles, Ramachandra Rao told the central leadership that Jagan, despite lack of political experience, was quite capable of facing challenges posed by the Telugu Desam Party and other opposition parties.

Sonia Gandhi held a series of meetings with party MPs from the state and other key leaders during last three days. After meeting her, some MPs openly aired their views in favour of Jagan.

YSR loyalists claim they also have the support of 40 out of 46 MPs. These include 33 members of the Lok Sabha.