CLP to leave decision on Sonia?

The state Congress Legislature Party will leave the onus of picking the next Chief Minister of the State on All India Congress Committee president Sonia Gandhi.

The CLP, which is presently meeting at the Assembly Meeting Hall, has decided to leave the crucial decision to Ms Gandhi, according to initial reports emerging from the meeting.

Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, In-Charge for Party Affairs Veerappa Moily and Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad are present at the meeting as Central observers.

Notable absentee at the meeting was Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

According to sources, the CLP will decide on the names of two or three choices and forward this short list to Ms Sonia Gandhi who will then decide on the next Chief Minister.

Political analysts say that the Congress president may or may not accept any of the choices named.

The emergency CLP meeting, which was hastily convened by outgoing Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Tuesday, was initially thought to have been called to decide on the course of action against Mr Jaganmohan Reddy, after the media house he owns, Sakshi, aired an ‘adverse’ programme against the party High Command.

Sources say that prominent among the names being discussed to succeed Mr Rosaiah are of Speaker Kiran Kumar Reddy, Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy and Information Minister J Geetha Reddy.

Analysts also state that Ms Sonia Gandhi can overrule these names and opt for someone who is seen closer to Mr Jaganmohan Reddy’s camp, to avoid a possible split in the party.

Meanwhile, reports of the pro-Jaganmohan Reddy camp pushing for the name of his mother and widow of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy to succeed Mr Rosaiah are also doing rounds.

According to sources, Ms Sonia Gandhi will take the decision on the next Chief Minister by Thursday or Friday