Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K Rosaiah is likely to be appointed caretaker chief minister and may also later succeed Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, who died in a helicopter crash.
Official sources said Rosaiah, the number two in the cabinet, will be the caretaker chief minister. The state cabinet may take a decision in this regard later in the day.
Rosaiah, a veteran leader who had been guiding the government on several matters during the last five years, may also be appointed as the next chief minister. However, a final decision will be taken by the Congress' central leadership.
A veteran of five decades in political life, 76-year-old Rosaiah was nominated to the state legislative council for the fourth time in 2009 and is the lone representative of the council in the Cabinet.
Rosaiah breaks down while announcing YSR's death
Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Finance Minister K Rosaiah, who is likely to be appointed caretaker Chief Minister, broke down during a news conference on Thursday while announcing the death of chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash.
The 76-year-old leader, the Seniormost Minister in the Cabinet, could not control himself when he made the formal announcement that the Chief Minister had died.
"I had never imagined that I will have to announce this bad news. I am not able to digest his demise. The man who was working among us till Wednesday suddenly disappeared," said Rosaiah, who has been guiding the state government in key policy matters during the last five years.
"People prayed across the state... prayed for his safety on Wednesday and throughout the night. There were prayers in temples, mosques, churches and gurdwaras but god willed otherwise," he said in a choking voice.
"We were working with Mr Rajasekhara Reddy till day before last night. He was with us during the debate on appropriation bill in the assembly. After the bill was passed in the assembly, he went out and later telephoned me to inform that he will not able to come to the council and wanted me to take care of the same," he said.
"Late in the night he congratulated me. I wanted to know what was the matter. He said the assembly and council business is over and we will be a bit free. I am not able to describe the affection he was showing to me and other ministers," said Rosaiah.
The finance minister said YSR's death was not only a personal loss to him but a great loss to the state and the country. "He was only 60 and was healthy. He had a long life before him and would have done much more for people but fate cut short his life," he said.
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