Hyderabad, November 11: The Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, has expressed his surprise and shock over speculations that he was on the way out and would be made a Governor of a southern State.
In an informal chat with NSS on Wednesday night at his camp office, Mr Rosaiah, referring to a report in this regard in a website, though has taken it in his usual stride, said that he was aware and anguished that his detractors within the ruling party and outside have been busy trying to dislodge him from the day he had assumed the responsibility as chief minister of the State.
The Chief Minister was also upset and irked over the manner in which the Telugu Desam party leaders, especially Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, were indulging in government bashing regularly. What really put him off was that the TDP president while touring the flood-affected areas in the coastal districts, instead of consoling the flood victims cried hoarse about him not being in power. It was unbecoming of a person who held the chief minister’s post for nine years to indulge in such cheap gimmicks in frustration, he quipped.
In a philosophical tone, Mr Rosaiah observed that as long as he remained Chief Minister, he would strive to discharge his duties adroitly and serve the people to their satisfaction. As a disciplined soldier of the Congress party, he would not clamor for any post or position, but would abide by any decision of the High Command, he observed.
Meanwhile, political analysts are of the firm view that any attempt by the Congress High Command to dislodge Mr Rosaiah at this juncture would be suicidal to the party. With too many aspirants from all the three regions eyeing for the chief minister’s gaddi, it would be a tough proposition for the Congress bosses in New Delhi to find a suitable and most importantly an amicable leader to replace Mr Rosaiah.
There is no denial of the fact that in the beginning there was a virtual revolt in the ruling party when Mr Rosaiah was made the interim Chief Minister after the tragic demise of YSR.
A majority of the legislators, including ministers, who were all loyal to the late YSR, wanted that the late chief minister’s son and Kadapa MP, Mr Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, should be entrusted the reins of the State leadership. However, Ms Sonia Gandhi placed her trust and confidence in an experienced and matured leader like Mr Rosaiah and accordingly made him the Chief Minister. Despite the initial hiccups and a virtual non- cooperation from his ministerial colleagues and legislators, Mr Rosaiah proved his mettle in administering the State well amidst repeated natural calamities and agitations.
Political analysts pointed out that the only drawback for Mr Rosaiah was his age and health. A seasoned and experienced politician, he had been keeping himself away from any group or regional politics. Thus, the big question making round in political circles is “after Mr Rosaiah who”, if at all the High Command, for reasons best known to itself, decides to embark on a change of guard in the State.
An interesting debate going on in political circles is whether the 150-odd Congress legislators, including almost all the minister’s loyal to late YSR, would propose once again the name of Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy for replacing Mr Rosaiah. This seems highly improbable as many of the leaders from among them are now dreaming about becoming the Chief Minister.
Moreover, at a time when the Justice Srikrishna Committee report on the Telangana crisis is expected by December end, it would be ridiculous on the part of the powers-that-be in Delhi to think of displacing Mr Rosaiah as any such move would only stir the hornet’s nest leading to utter chaos in the State. Therefore, according to high placed and influential sources within the ruling Congress, the question of a change of guard in the State is only a figment of imagination of vested interests and that the High Command continues to bank on the abilities of Mr Rosaiah to administer the State.
——–NSS