Rosaiah submits resignation to Governor

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Konijeti Rosaiah has submitted his resignation to Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Wednesday afternoon.

The Chief Minister announced his decision to quit “due to advanced age” at a hurriedly convened press conference and later drove to Raj Bhavan along with some of his Cabinet colleagues. He was closeted with the Governor for about 15 minutes when he reportedly asked Mr. Narasimhan to accept his resignation at the earliest.

Mr. Rosaiah, who appeared relaxed during the brief media interaction, said there were no political reasons behind his resignation and refused to reply when asked about his possible successor. He said his 14-month-long stint as Chief Minister was satisfactory.

He said he had no special influence or support of groups in the party for his elevation as Chief Minister. He was given the responsibility due to the good impression Congress president Sonia Gandhi, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and the party’s Core Committee had on him.

Recalling his stint as Finance Minister earlier, he said his activity was confined to one department. But the Chief Minister’s job entailed strenuous work of reviewing the functioning of all the departments and ensuring an effective coordination between them. “I have taken up the responsibility at an advanced age and the work pressure enhanced considerably,” he said.

He thanked the party, bureaucracy and the people for reposing faith in him and declared that he would extend all the possible cooperation to his successor.

“I will be free from tomorrow and will extend all possible help to whoever takes the responsibility,” he said.

Mr. Rosaiah tendered his resignation a few hours ahead of an emergency meeting of the Congress Legislature Party scheduled at 6.30 pm to discuss the issue of choosing his successor. AICC leaders Pranab Mukherjee, M. Veerappa Moily, Ghulam Nabi Azad and A.K. Antony are expected to attend the CLP meeting as the party High Command’s observors.

There was hectic political activity in the Congress party with MLAs discussion among themselves about the possible successor of Mr. Rosaiah.

PTI adds:

Governor accepts Rosaiah’s resignation

Mr. Narasimhan on Wednesday accepted the resignation of Mr. Rosaiah.

The Governor, however, asked Mr. Rosaiah to continue in the post till alternative arrangements were made, a Raj Bhavan spokesman said.