Thaindian News

Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh), Sept 5 (IBNS) A day after late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YSR Reddy was laid to rest, sparks of infighting have reportedly noticed within state Congress over his successor. However, Caretaker Chief Minister and Finance Minsiter K Rosaiah Saturday denied such reports.

“There is no infighting within Andhra Pradesh over YSR’s successor. Why should there be one? It’s the High Command that will take the final call on the issue,” Rosaiah told reporters here Saturday.

“I am sure there won’t be any groups within Congress. In the last 5 years, the state Congress has stood behind the Congress President Soniaji - and that is why we got 33 MPs elected from here. Now also I am sure there won’t be infighting. But we are human beings - we will be discussing various things amongst ourselves,” he added.

Meanwhile, supporters of YSR have already launched a campaign to elect his son Jaganmohan Reddy as his ‘suitable successor’.

According to media reports, a signature campaign has been initiated by the ruling party’s Chief Whip in the Assembly, B Vikramarka, backing their demand.

Rosaiah, on Friday, had said he has no objection if Jaganmohan takes YSR’s place.

“I don’t have any objection if Jaganmohan becomes the next Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh in placeof his father,” Rosaiah said.

Even the ministers in Reddy cabinet campaigned for Jaganmohan saying “he will be a right successor-a person who thinks on the lines of YSR and cares for the poor.”

Congress sources in New Delhi said the Congress Legislative Party (CLP) meeting would be held after the mourning period.

The Bell 430 helicopter carrying Reddy, two of his staff and two pilots went missing in pouring rain Wednesday morning over the Naxal and tiger-infested Nalamalla forests and with no contact until early Thursday.

An Indian Air Force (IAF) helicopter located the crashed Bell 430 aircraft on top of Serai Salem hill at a distance of 40 nautical miles (74 km) east of Kurnool district Thursday. Andhra CM YSR Reddy, Principal Secretary S Subramanyam, Chief Security Officer ASC Wesley and two pilots - Group Captain SK Bhatia and Captain MS Reddy, died in the air crash.