Battle for the Throne
When the elections were held in AP in April-May not many - barring the NDTV - had predicted such a landslide victory for the Congress and YS Rajashekhara Reddy. Nor for that matter none expected that in less than four months there'd be a succession battle in AP - following the death of YSR. Obviously the supporters of YSR - in the throes of emotion - want Jaganmohan Reddy, son of YSR to be the next chief minister. Though he is not the only contender to the rich throne of Andhra.
What however is annoying is the kind of importance the media is giving to the candidature of Jaganmohan, being orchestrated by YSR loyalists. Even the so-called responsible channels like the CNN IBN and NDTV are repeatedly telecasting the demand for Jaganmohan to be the CM and have conducted interviews with all and sundry regarding its possibility - including with Moily, the law minister and Rosaiah, the caretaker CM (who's doing this job the third time in his political career, which went missing from the coverage of all the national media).
I hope good sense prevails in the Congress leadership and the baton is NOT passed on to Jagan Mohan as though AP is a private princely state of the Reddy clan. There are far more experienced - and clean and committed - politicians who can lead the state in the hour of crisis. Jagan mohan is not suited not just because he is young but he has not proved anything as a politician. He's a first time MP - and he is there only because his father was the CM. There are enough allegations and whispers that have been going around regarding the financial dealings of Jagan (and his dead father) especially in the starting of their media business. One wouldn't want to see someone who's tainted even before he's started the career occupying a very important position in the state. It would only send the wrong signals all around. Also, having someone not from the YSR family also might put a probable stop to the factionist violence in the Rayalaseema of AP.
Another few days and we would know what happens and where the political thinking of the Congress party is headed.
What however is annoying is the kind of importance the media is giving to the candidature of Jaganmohan, being orchestrated by YSR loyalists. Even the so-called responsible channels like the CNN IBN and NDTV are repeatedly telecasting the demand for Jaganmohan to be the CM and have conducted interviews with all and sundry regarding its possibility - including with Moily, the law minister and Rosaiah, the caretaker CM (who's doing this job the third time in his political career, which went missing from the coverage of all the national media).
I hope good sense prevails in the Congress leadership and the baton is NOT passed on to Jagan Mohan as though AP is a private princely state of the Reddy clan. There are far more experienced - and clean and committed - politicians who can lead the state in the hour of crisis. Jagan mohan is not suited not just because he is young but he has not proved anything as a politician. He's a first time MP - and he is there only because his father was the CM. There are enough allegations and whispers that have been going around regarding the financial dealings of Jagan (and his dead father) especially in the starting of their media business. One wouldn't want to see someone who's tainted even before he's started the career occupying a very important position in the state. It would only send the wrong signals all around. Also, having someone not from the YSR family also might put a probable stop to the factionist violence in the Rayalaseema of AP.
Another few days and we would know what happens and where the political thinking of the Congress party is headed.