andhra pradesh chief minister rosaiah

Rosaiah claims cooperation from all ministers

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah on Thursday denied that ministers were not cooperating with him in a bid to pressure the Congress leadership to name the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy's son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy as the next chief minister.

He said that the reports appearing in a section of the media were "totally baseless".

"During the seven-day mourning period (following YSR's death), ministers wanted to stay back in their respective districts to attend condolence meetings. Those who were not able to be here have taken my permission to attend condolence meetings which are important and dear to us," said the acting chief minister.

Some ministers did not attend the review meetings called by Rosaiah during the last two days, triggering speculation that they deliberately stayed away.

The 77-year-old finance minister was sworn in as chief minister last week after bodies of YSR and four others were found in the wreckage of a helicopter that crashed in a forest.

Rosaiah said that Civil Supplies Minister J Krishna Rao, who did not attend a review meeting on price rise Wednesday, had taken his permission to attend a meeting in Mahabubnagar district.

Minister for Municipal Administration Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, a YSR loyalist, also denied the reports. He said the state cabinet was working unitedly to run the administration.

"We all including YSR used to respect Rosaiah. He is the senior most in the ministry. We still respect him. The media reports of ministers snubbing him are false," said Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy.

ANDHRA PRADESH NEW INCHARGE CHIEF MINISTER ROSAIAH EX-FINANCE MINISTER