Pranab to go to Hyderabad on succession

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to be dispatched to Hyderbad in a bid to thrash out the leadership issue in Andhra Pradesh.

Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee is likely to be dispatched to Hyderbad in a bid to thrash out the leadership issue in Andhra Pradesh amidst clear signals that it may be too early for Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to wear the mantle of chief ministership.

Mukherjee may be accompanied by AICC in charge of Andhra Pradesh affairs,M Veerappa Moily,and General Secretary Digvijay Singh,during the visit later this week for an assessment mission before a meeting of the Congress Legislature Party is held to elect a leader in place of the late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

The visit could be after the week-long mourning period that ends on Thursday,party sources said adding the party does not not want a “free for all” in the CLP meeting like the scenes witnessed during the condolence meeting held yesterday in Hyderabad.

Story continues below this ad

A “basic” decision would be taken about the next CLP leader before the MLAs meet and the leader would be one who would be able to command the support of Jaganmohan,who is said to have majority support of the 154 Congress MLAs.

There has been a clamour among the Jaganmohan supporters for his becoming the chief minister but the Congress High Command’s intervention has put an end to open jockeying for power.

Moily and Singh have already been in Hyderabad in the last few days and have given their assessment to party President Sonia Gandhi. Reliable sources in the party said that there was no no “anti-Jagan” feeling even after various types of campaign were indulged in by his supporters in the aftermath of the tragic death of his father.

The party sees it as an “emotional outburst” of feelings and nothing more. However,the sources said that his inexperience,both in politics and administration,were factors that went against 37-year-old Jaganmohan,a first time MP,for whom age was on his side. Stability of the government was a key factor and was on top of party’s mind in any decision making. It was felt that Jaganmohan may not not be able to provide a stable government at this time when senior and veteran party leaders were around,they said.

Story continues below this ad

They also said that anybody who is made the new Chief Minister has to have the backing of Jaganmohan behind whom a large of MLAs,who were loyal to his father,have rallied which gives him his strength.

“We want a solid solution and not not a quick-fix solution in a big state like Andhra Pradesh,” they said.

Meanwhile,former PCC President K Keshava Rao,who had criticised attempts at “dynastic succession” in the state,met Gandhi today. Another party MP from Andhra Pradesh Vundavalli Arun Kumar,a Jaganmohan supporter,also called on her.

Donald Trump may replace H-1B lottery with wage-based selection process

World5 hr ago

Days after hiking the fees for new H-1B applications to $100,000, the Donald Trump administration has proposed to overhaul the visa process for high-skilled non-immigrant workers. The Trump administration has suggested a wage-based selection process for the H-1B programme, instead of the current lottery system.

View all shorts

Live Blog