New AP CM opposes traffic stops for his movement

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who took over on Thursday last after the death of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash, has asked the police officials not to cause difficulties to the citizens by stopping traffic on the roads of Hyderabad and Secunderabad to facilitate the movement of his car.

Rosaiah told the officials in a meeting that he was pained to see traffic stopped for a long time as part of his security during last two days and urged them to see that the people were not put to hardship because of this practice.

"If it is necessary curtail the time to the minimum," he said adding that he does not see any necessity for such steps.

He also wanted the officials not to cause difficulties and problems to the employees of the D block in secretariat where his chamber is located.

"Provide the security without causing any problems to them and with out curtailing their movement," said the chief minister who so far did not have any intrusive or obstructive security as the state finance minister.

Interestingly, he is continuing to work out of his old chamber in the D block that he occupied as finance minister till now. He has taken a decision not to move in to the Chief Minister's office in C Block of Samata block of secretariat which YSR and before him Chandrababu Naidu used. While Naidu had his chambers on the fourth floor, YSR occupied a renovated office at the 6th floor with all the facilities.

Apparently, 77 year old Rosaiah did not want to cause any apprehensions among the supporters of YSR and his son Jaganmohan Reddy by moving in to office and creating an impression that he was trying to become a permanent chief minister. He has already made it clear that he will quit the Chief Minister's post the moment high command asks him to do so. "I don't have any personal agenda or ambition," he said.

Similarly there is also no change in Rosaiah's residence and he continues to stay at his old residence in congested Ameerpet area and has not expressed any desire to shift from there. The police have upgraded and strengthened the security at his residence by deploying additional personnel including the anti-terrorist squad from OCTOPUS apart from other units. The communication system at the place has also been upgraded.

The official residence and the camp office of the Chief Minister, which was built for YSR in 2004, continues to be occupied by his family. With the continuing campaign to make Jagamohan Reddy the next Chief Minister, the supporters are hoping that there will be no need for YSR's family to move out from the sprawling complex.