

HYDERABAD: Finance Minister K Rosaiah was today sworn in as caretaker Chief Minister. He was administered the oath of office by Governor ND Tiwari at the Raj Bhavan. Speaking to the media, Rosaiah stated that the responsibility was truly demanding and that the arrangement was a temporary one till such time as the Congress Legislature Party elected a new leader.
He, however, also pointed out that constitutionally speaking there was no such post as “caretaker’’ chief minister and that a chief minister was a chief minister per se.
Vowing to tread the trail blazed by YS Rajasekhara Reddy which had endeared him to the people, Rosaiah also counted on the support of Congress national president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and their “affection for the State’’.
With their help and with that of party leaders in the State he would carry out his duties to the best of his ability, he said.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Law Minister Veerappa Moily stated that the people of Andhra Pradesh had lost a great son and that the demise came when he was doing very well.
In the interests of continuity of governance, the Congress leadership had decided to appoint Rosaiah as caretaker chief minister, he explained.
“It is a temporary arrangement.
The State Congress Legislature Party will meet and elect the new leader,’’ Moily stated.