A hesitant starter, Konijeti Rosaiah may finally be growing in confidence, and stepping out of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s shadow.

The Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, whose elevation to the top following YSR’s death last month was seen as a stop-gap arrangement made by the Congress leadership, has been silently working towards a stronger position and looks to be gaining respect in the state’s political and administrative circles for his deft handling of crises.

Two extremes of nature — drought and floods — that hit the state almost simultaneously were the first test for the 76-year-old veteran in his new assignment. On September 9, he had to declare drought in 21 districts and on October 2 he was confronted with the worst floods in 100 years in six districts.

The drought and floods tested his mettle and Rosaiah, who was YSR’s trusted Finance Minister until September 2, did a better job than most of his senior ministers by visiting the affected areas and meeting displaced people, said officials.

He took the victims’ anger at some places in his stride as he went about directing relief and rehabilitation and assessing damage to seek Central financial assistance. He also visited Kurnool town where, police officials warned, supporters of YSR’s son Jaganmohan Reddy, who wanted to see him as the Chief Minister, could create trouble and embarrass him.

A chunk of Rosaiah’s strength came from the Congress high command that put him firmly in the saddle despite the shrill cry to give Jaganmohan charge, said party leaders. While Rosaiah was hesitating to take office, Congress chief Sonia Gandhi told him to shift to the official CM office during her visit to the state to survey the flood damage and assured him that there would be no change. Also, at a meeting between the Congress chief and Jaganmohan in Delhi last week, a clear message was sent out: for now, there won’t be any change.

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