By IANS,
Hyderabad: Virtually bringing the curtains down on the leadership issue in Andhra Pradesh, Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy Friday said it was not important for him to become the chief minister at this juncture but was confident of becoming one in the future.
A day after meeting Congress party president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi, the son of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy said he would work like a “loyal soldier” of the party even if he was not given any position of power and would strive for the party’s victory in the 2014 elections.
The Kadapa MP told reporters he had left the decision about his political career to Gandhi and he would support Rosaiah or any other leader appointed as the chief minister by the central leadership.
“I am only 36 years old. It is not important for me to get the CM’s post at this juncture. In the days to come, I will work hard and earn the goodwill and affection of everyone. It (the CM’s position) will definitely come someday in future,” he said.
This was the first time that Jagan answered the media’s queries on the leadership issue and also his first full-fledged media conference after the death of his father in a helicopter crash Sep 2.
After his meeting with Sonia Gandhi on Thursday, Jagan had told reporters that she promised to “take care of everything”. He reiterated that he had full faith in her and would abide by whatever decision she takes.
“I appeal to all my supporters including ministers and legislators to work for fulfilment of YSR’s ideals under the leadership of Sonia Gandhi, and whoever is the chief minister,” he said.
The appeal is significant in view of the threat by few of his supporters in the ministry and among MPs to quit if he was not made the chief minister.
Finance Minister K. Rosaiah had taken taken over as the chief minister Sep 3, a day after YSR and four others were killed in a helicopter crash in Kurnool district.
The young MP, however, said there was nothing wrong in his aspiring for the chief minister’s post. “If you were to be in my position and if god blesses you with that opportunity, will you not accept it and work for fulfilling your father’s unfinished agenda?” he shot back at a reporter.
Even while extending support to Chief Minister K. Rosaiah, he said he would “closely watch” the government’s performance and would not hesitate to put pressure to ensure that YSR’s policies and programmes were implemented.
He also remarked that key poll promises made by his father, including increasing the quota of subsidized rice to the poor and duration of free electricity supply to farmers, were bogged down by delays.