Rosaiah's illness triggers speculation

Hyderabad: A year after K. Rosaiah took over as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh in tragic circumstances following the death of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash, there is speculation that the state will soon experience another change in leadership.

The health of 77-year-old Rosaiah is said to be in doubt. While Rosaiah suffered from viral fever and related problems for the past two days and could not accompany Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to Chittoor district on Wednesday, it was another development that triggered speculation.

Senior minister and leader of the House in the state assembly J. Geetha Reddy was asked to rush to New Delhi to be with Congress Party chief Sonia Gandhi, who had earlier filed her nomination papers for the post of Congress president. Though Reddy tried to scotch the rumours by saying that she was only asked to come to Delhi by the state Congress president to represent the state in the absence of the chief minister, a lot was read into the incident.

Earlier, her name had figured among the candidates who could potentially take the reins in case a change becomes necessary.

Scuttling the speculation, Reddy said that she was happy to be a minister in the state Cabinet. "I am not aspiring for any higher position," she said.

Meanwhile, Rosaiah continued to rest yesterday and could not participate in government and party programmes organised on the occasion of the first anniversary of the death of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy. He was scheduled to garland Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy's portrait, attend an official function in Hyderabad and then fly to Pavuralagutta in Kurnool district, the site of the air crash, to unveil a 20-foot bronze statue of the deceased.

Instead, Rosaiah issued a statement recalling his close bond and affinity with Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and regretted that he could not participate because of ill health. "It is unfortunate that I am unable to attend," he said adding that the welfare programmes launched by Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy would always remain fresh in the minds of the people.

Under observation

Rosaiah's condition was being closely monitored by a team of doctors headed by the director of Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, D. Prasad Rao. Significantly, the team also includes Dr K. Subhakar, the state coordinator on swine flu, as well as cardiologists.

Subhakar said that Rosaiah was suffering only from viral fever, cold, and body pain. "There is no cause of concern," he said. Rosaiah tested negative for swine flu, dengue and other significant illnesses.

Rosaiah is normally physically very fit and sturdy, despite having undergone heart surgery two years ago. But of late he has been suffering from bouts of fever and was advised to rest a couple of months back. This has raised questions about his ability to shoulder the burden of his position in the long run.