Many contenders in race for CM’s post

Hyderabad : The Congress high command favoured President’s rule in AP after the Chief Minister’s resignation. However, state leaders were opposed to President’s rule and asked the high command to form a new government. They had said that a Congress government would be useful for the party in the run up to the general elections.

Sources said that Telangana leaders have told the high command that they have no objections if the Chief Minister’s post was given to Seemandhra leaders. Apart from Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar, Union ministers Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, M.M. Pallam Raju and others also met Mr Digvijay Singh. Deputy CM Raja Narasimha and MP M.A. Khan met AICC president Sonia Gandhi .

Speaking to reporters, Union minister J.D. Seelam said that the high command may take final decision on formation of a new government in AP by Tuesday. Mr Satyanarayana told the media that there were many leaders in the Congress capable of becoming Chief Minister and they would have no objection to the high command’s candidate. He added that ministers, MPs and other leaders who wanted to continue in the party would attend the meeting with Mr Singh on Tuesday in Delhi.

Mr Satyanarayana also said that it would be better if the elections in the state were postponed. He said that except for the TD and YSRC, no party wanted elections now. Among the leaders in the race for the chief minister’s post from Telangana are Mr Raja Narasimha, ministers K. Jana Reddy, Ponnala Laxmaiah, N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, J. Geetha Reddy and former PCC president D. Srinivas. From Seemandhra, the contenders are Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, N. Raghuveera Reddy, Mr Kanna Lakshminarayana and Union minister K. Chiranjeevi.