As the sympathy generated by Rajasekhara Reddy's tragic death has started ebbing, it has become more or less clear now that the Congress high command was in no mood to oblige aggressive campaigners projecting Jaganmohan Reddy as his successor.
The indication has come from the top most level in the Congress party, even as YSR's close friend, advisory and aide and now a god-father to Jagan, KVP Ramachandra Rao is going to meet party president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Despite Jaganmohan Reddy's supporters including half of the state cabinet trying to drum up support and projecting Jagan, it has become clear that the party high command has other plans up its sleeves.
The clear indication came with the announcement from New Delhi that a three-member committee headed by senior leader Pranab Mukherji will visit Hyderabad on September 10, a day after the period of mourning comes to an end, to set in motion the political process. The committee will have AICC general secretary in charge of AP affairs M Veerappa Moily and another powerful general secretary Digvijay Singh.
At the same time, the high command has also dropped the hints that no Member of Parliament will be considered for the post of the chief minister. This rules out the two main contenders Jaganmohan Reddy, MP from Kadapa and S Jaipal Reddy, union minister.
The message from the choice of three big-guns of AICC is clear. Andhra Pradesh is a key state in Sonia Gandhi's scheme of things and she does not want to allow to slip it out of her control nor does she want the party to be gripped by any major political turmoil or a possible revolt by Jagan's supporters.
Highly placed sources said, "The idea behind sending three most senior and powerful leaders of the party to Hyderabad is to placate YSR loyalists and pave the way for the election of a leader, who is experienced and acceptable to all."
Though Jagan supporters are not likely to be persuaded easily and were likely to step up the efforts to exert pressure on the high command, the party is likely to find a middle path to find a lasting solution to end the succession race amicably.
Pranab Mukherjee, sources said, will try to create a consensus around Rosaiah and the CLP will be called only after Jaganmohan Reddy agrees to propose his name, sources said.
According to sources, anti-Jagan leaders have advised the high command that this was the right time to regain the control over the party in Andhra Pradesh after a free hand given to YSR for last many years.
