Mr Rosiah, himself an YSR loyalist and erstwhile Finance Minister, is committed to effectively implementing all the development and welfare programmes set in motion by YSR, who was at the height of his popularity in the State, enjoying also great confidence of the party high command, when he met his tragic end in a copter crash in the first week of September. The 'Jagan for CM'' movement is unrelenting and has triggered considerable political tensions across the state even as Mr Rosiah is seriously engaged in fulfilling his responsibilities without let or hindrance.

While Ms. Sonia Gandhi and leaders at the Centre have their own immediate problems including the elections in Maharashtra and Haryana, the signals so far from them are that Mr. Rosiah is not an acting Chief Minister and whatever decision for the future may be necessary would be made by them at their own time. The Jagan supporters are restive and even enraged at the messages conveyed by two Rajya Sabha members on the thinking of the high command. Mr. K V Ramachandra Rao, MP, whom YSR had made his adviser and treated him his 'shadow and soul', failed to get news that would have cheered him and Jagan supporters. But more disturbed they were at the backing for Mr. Rosiah from Mr. K Keshav Rao, MP and Congress Working Committee member, who said, after contacts with AICC leadership, that Jagan supporters must await their decision.

Reports from Delhi suggest that the central leadership is considering a line of leadership in the Pradesh Congress being promoted for possible choice for office in future, with no incumbent holding the position for more than two years. It is also said that the Central leadership would weigh all options and more likely that young Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy, first-time MP from Kadapa, would be given a position in the Union Council of Ministers for gaining experience or a role in the State party, given the popularity of his father and the strength the party gained under his stewardship.

Nevertheless, some of the old guard in Pradesh Congress, sidelined by YSR, are out in the open though they all support the present dispensation under Mr. Rosiah and praise his efficiency as administrator. Pradesh Congress Chief Mr. D Srinivas is engaging himself in a membership drive for the party and none of these partymen is making claims for office. The pro-Jagan group see in all this a deliberate plan to keep him out of the picture.

Across the political spectrum, the major opposition party TDP led by Mr Chandrababu Naidu as well as others have taken the new Rosiah Government in stride while ridiculing the internal divisions in the Congress and the unseemly behaviour of some ministers not co-operating with the Chief Minister for some time .Mr.. Chandrababu Naidu took a swipe at the ruling party saying there was no 'dynasty culture' in TDP. The Praja Rajyam leader Mr. Chiranjeevi has been supportive of Mr. Rosiah and deplored the feuding within the Congress. Though he fought against the Congress in the May elections, there was speculation that YSR was trying to get his party merged with the Congress. Mr. Chiranjeevi is meanwhile strengthening his Praja Rajyam.

Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy, having spent most of his time away from Hyderabad after performing funeral rites and retiring to his estate, is planning to call on Ms.Sonia Gandhi, PM and other leaders in the near future, mainly to convey the family's gratitude for the homage they paid to his father when his body was brought to Hyderabad after the crash, and also likely to convey 'feelings' in the state on the political situation. Irrespective of the unruly scenes even during the mourning period and the wrangling that goes on, all sections aver that they would abide by whatever decision the High Command takes. Mr. Rosiah says as a 'disciplined soldier of the Congress for decades and would continue to remain so', he would accept any decision by Central leaders.

The Congress legislature party will be convened after Dasara holidays to pay homage to the late leader, a day before both Houses of the legislature are summoned to place on record their grief and pay homage to YSR. Going by tradition, the party will adopt a resolution requesting the Congress President to name the new leader of the Legislature Party. The person named would be formally elected leader of the House by the party. Meanwhile, the state government has already moved in the matter of identifying suitable land in the environs of the twin cities to raIse a world class monument for YSR.

From day one, Mr. Rosiah has been busy attending to affairs of the state, clearing hundreds of pending files, video-conferencing with collectors on measures to ensure that drought relief is promptly provided and monitor the work of health officials in controlling the swine flu epidemic which has claimed over 30 lives so far and addressing tasks of securing effective implementation of the welfare programmes. Despite the difficult fiscal position resulting from fall in revenues in the wake of general slowdown in the economy, Mr. Rosiah assured that there would be no lack of funds for drought relief or the important welfare schemes and ongoing development projects. He had already taken some austerity measures ahead of the guidelines issued by the Finance Ministry, and hoped with the assistance of around Rs.9800 crore sought from the Centre, the state would tide over the situation in the coming months.

Mr. Rosiah has said his Government would while continuing with its priority for agriculture, irrigation and power give greater attention to industrial development in future pari passu with the advances that Hyderabad has been making in information technology sector and other services. Buoyed by the prospects of gas from KG basin, the state government is looking afresh at facilitating industrial development mainly in the private sector. Apart from its major steel plant and refinery in the public sector and cement and paper industries in private sector, several new projects are on the anvil, both in the public and private sectors. These include, apart from a major expansion in the Vizag steel plant, a 10-billion dollar refinery project mainly for exports to East Asia sponsored by a consortium of Indian and foreign companies led by HPC, a joint venture power project of NTPC and BHEL, and a Rs.12,000 crore metro rail project. On his visit to New Delhi shortly, Mr. Rosiah is expected to take up the government's request for share in KG basin gas on which YSR had written to the Prime Minister weeks before his death. (IPA)