Trouble brewing in Andhra Pradesh Congress over the choice of successor to Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy spilled in the open with the supporters of his son Jaganmohan Reddy created pandemonium at a condolence meeting organized by the state Congress committee in Hyderabad Sunday. A large number of workers, carrying portraits and posters of Jaganmohan Reddy, chanted slogans in his favor and against the state Congress president D. Srinivas. As senior leaders including the Chief Minister K. Rosaiah and many other senior leaders watched helplessly, the workers demanded that Jaganmohan Reddy should be immediately installed as the chief minister. Slogan shouting started when D. Srinivas was speaking on the condolence resolution paying respect to the memory of YSR, who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday. Jagan supporters, shouting slogans like “DS Go Back” and “DS down down”, did not allow the PCC president to continue his speech. To control situation, Srinivas announced the end of the meeting and left the meeting hall. Subsequently, other dignitaries also left the venue without speaking. It was left to YSR's close friend and adviser Dr. KVP Ramachandra Rao and younger brother Y.S. Vivekanand Reddy to appeal to the supporters to calm down and practice restrain. Ramachandra Rao, who was a friend of YSR for the last 40 years, repeatedly broke down during his emotional speech. Recalling his relationship with YSR, he said, “We were two different bodies but one soul. I have come here as the messenger of YSR to tell you that by indulging in such protests, you are causing pain to YSR. His soul will not rest in peace because of your actions”. He also warned that those indulging in such hasty actions were in fact harming Jaganmohan Reddy. He asked them why they think party high command will not do justice to Jaganmohan Reddy. “The party high command knows everything. Sonia Gandhi will take a proper decision on the issue of Jaganmohan Reddy. Why are you thinking negatively”? Ramachandra Rao asked urging the workers to have patience. The trouble created at the official meeting of Congress party is unlikely to go unnoticed by the party high command which had already directed the party leaders, ministers and legislators to stop their campaign for Jaganmohan Reddy. Though the protest at the meeting could be handiwork of some over enthusiastic party workers and ordinary Jagan supporters, the involvement of some leaders from behind the scenes cannot be ruled out. It came after four days of campaigning by a group of state ministers, MPs and legislators in favor of Jaganmohan Reddy. Party high command was not amused by such activities and has delivered a stern message to the pro-Jagan group. An informal meeting of Congress legislature party convened last evening had to be called off after the central leadership cautioned the organizers. They also had to cancel the proposed Padyatra from Assembly to official residence of YSR.
