Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, son of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, might have temporarily given in to pressures from the Central leadership to stop the campaign to install him as Chief Minister, but the Kadapa MP was learnt to be determined to play a role in state politics as he wanted to contest the by-election for Pulivendula Assembly constituency that fell vacant due to his father’s demise. The date of bypoll is yet to be announced.

Jaganmohan was learnt to have expressed his desire to contest the bypoll at a meeting with Congress president Sonia Gandhi here on Saturday. He was accompanied by his mother, wife and sister. The Congress president was, however, non-committal, said party sources. While Jaganmohan had sought an appointment with Sonia way back in September, he had been kept waiting due to his perceived defiance to the high command for launching a campaign for his chief ministership, said the sources.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who also called on Sonia on Saturday, declared that he was “very confident and satisfied” and any question about his term in office did not arise. As for the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) meeting in which he is expected to be formally elected the CLP leader, the Congress president asked him about the public interest litigation (PIL) challenging his appointment as CM.

“She may fix a date and inform us. While enquiring about the PIL, she appeared to be thinking of calling the CLP meeting,” the CM said at a press conference here. He affirmed that the CLP meeting would be held in 2009 only. The Congress president also informed him that she had given appointment to Jaganmohan and asked him to bring his family members along.