Andhra CM meets PM, Sonia

On his maiden visit to the national capital after taking over as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, K Rosaiah on Saturday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi and is understood to have discussed political developments in the state, particularly the convening of the Congress Legislature Party meeting.

Rosaiah, who arrived in Delhi on Friday night, met Dr Singh at his 7, Race Course Road residence and is believed to have discussed issues related to flood relief in the state. The Centre had announced Rs 1,000 crore to carry out flood-relief in Andhra Pradesh.

The chief minister is also expected to have discussed the state's political situation, in the wake of Y S Rajasekahara Reddy's death, and the subsequent campaign by his son Y S Jaganmohan Reddy's supporters to make him the chief minister.

The meeting assumes significance in the wake of the high command virtually announcing that Rosaiah will continue as the chief minister. Earlier, Rosaiah met Sonia Gandhi at 10, Janpath and held consultations with her on the political situation as well as the upcoming Greater Hyderabad Muncipal Corporation elections.

According to party sources, the high command is likely to convene the Congress Legislature Party soon to formally elect Rosaiah as its leader. Meanwhile, Jaganmohan Reddy is also scheduled to meet Gandhi later in the evening along with his family members, including his mother.

Party sources said Jagan and his mother Vijayalaxmi will meet Gandhi to 'thank' her for her support during the family's troubled times. Congress sources said the high command will decide a date to convene the CLP meeting to condole the death of Rajasekahara Reddy and formally elect Rosaiah as chief minister.

Rosaiah had on Friday met Moily and held consultations with him.