Rosaiah occupies chief minister's chair

5 October 2009

Hyderabad: More than a month after he took over, K. Rosaiah Monday entered the chief minister's office at the state secretariat here - at a time fixed by his astrologers.

Amid chanting of Vedic hymns by priests, the 77-year-old Rosaiah, who also holds the finance portfolio, occupied the chief minister's office at 9.19 a.m., the time fixed by his astrologers.

Though he was sworn in as chief minister Sep 3, a day after Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy died in a helicopter crash, he had been discharging his responsibilities from the chamber of finance minister due to political uncertainty.

After occupying the chief minister's chair, Rosaiah signed a memorandum to be presented to UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi on the flood situation. He also signed a file for compensation to be paid to the victims.

He then proceeded to the airport to accompany Sonia Gandhi for an aerial survey of flood-hit areas.

Rosaiah entered the chief minister's office at a time when the state is facing the worst-ever floods. For the last two days, he along with some ministers and senior officials had been spending the night at the state secretariat to monitor the situation.

Rosaiah had earlier stated that he would enter the chief minister's office only after getting a nod from the central leadership of the Congress. The leadership, which appears to have turned down the demand of a section of the party to name Rajasekhara Reddy's son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy as chief minister, at least for now, reportedly advised Rosaiah to occupy the chair to strengthen his grip on the administration.

The heavy rains and floods battering the state since last week also had its impact on 'Jagan for CM' campaign by the loyalists of the late chief minister.