Jaipal Reddy, Rosaiah Eye CM Seat

Even as Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy declares that he will be at the helm of power till 2014, and beyond, the activities within the Congress party make it difficult for political observers to believe that the situation is as rosy as the CM is trying to purport it to be.

Union Petroleum And Natural Gas Minister Jaipal Reddy and ex-CM Rosaiah are both reportedly vying for the CM seat.

Rosaiah is known to have written to the Congress High Command, urging it to take appropriate measures to ensure that the Congress stays in power in the state. The letter also reportedly carried subtle hints (not too subtle, in case the High Command misses them) that he was prepared to serve as the CM again.

Jaipal Reddy, who has wanted to serve as the CM for quite some time now, is adopting the strategy of supporting the Telangana issue to enter into the state politics with a bang. Rumours are rife that the Union Minister is mulling over resigning from the Manmohan Singh cabinet to mount pressure on the Centre to introduce the Telangana Bill in the Parliament.

According to sources, Rosaiah had resigned as the CM in November 2010 because the Congress had opined that the CM would have to belong to the Reddy community in order to counter the Y S Jaganmohan Reddy factor. Rosaiah had handed in his resignation citing health restrictions.

The then Assembly Speaker N Kiran Kumar Reddy was chosen over the then Union Urban Development Minister Jaipal Reddy to succeed Rosaiah as the CM.

Following the humbling defeat of the Congress at the Kadapa by-elections, the internal disturbances in the AP Congress also came into light, and the Centre reportedly opines that KKR is evidently not in control over the affairs of the party, leave alone the state.