Cricket, Hockey, Relay Race, Hurdles, foot ball, of course circus, if all the games are played simultaneously that too on the same ground. One can easily understand the state of affairs.  This is precisely what is happening on Andhra Pradesh Congress political play ground. Each side raising voice. Cacophony in the political circles. Full bloom democracy is at its work once again in Congress as expected. The sudden disappearance of a strong leader like YS Rajashekhar Reddy triggered off a chain of events in the State Congress. Muted voices are heard louder and louder. Individual loyalties are holding the party to ransom. Every leader loudly appealing for silence. Every group is violently appealing for peace. But, the Congress party wants us to believe all this as internal affairs of the party. The political imbroglio is taking a heavy toll of governance. With the warring groups taking a belligerent posture, the 24 hour news television having an insatiable appetite for sensational stories is adding fuel to this political fury. The conspicuous silence by the high command makes the situation much more volatile. As long as this volatility continues, this dust refuses to die down.

In this long drawn intractable political battle, every group has their strengths and weaknesses. The problem for Congress high command is that it does not want to name Jagan as chief minister at least for now. It has its own reasons for this. The party can not just go by headcount of MLAs. The party does not mean MLAs and MPs only. The party as a whole does not have a single agenda of who should be made the Chief Minister. It has a long time plan of retaining and consolidating its power in the State in future too. The party has to keep its flock together to accomplish this. Inexperience to tackle the formidable opposition, vast business  interest staking precedence over political interests, Unacceptable for many sections of party leadership, implications for other states;   all this contribute to high command showing indifference to making Jagan as successor to YSR. The untold fear is that Jagan’s business empire was built on political patronage. Unsound principles and shaky foundations of this business empire that has seen meteoric rise are bound to create huge political embarrassment for the Congress if Jagan is made the Chief Minister. Opposition has been making a war cry on all these allegations ever since the days of YSR. But, YSR successfully fought opposition tirade due to unquestionable sway over the party, charisma among people and with long political experience steeled in the fiery furnace of political battles. All this is lacking in Jagan. Political and administrative experience is not acquired as a genetic characteristic. Knowing all this fully well Congress high command does not want to give opposition a stick to beat it every day. However, high command can not ignore certain ground facts in favour of Jagan. He enjoys the support of overwhelming number of MLAs and MPs. He inherits some charisma from his father. His camp is flush with resources that fuel politics. In the absence of any other influential and charismatic leader in the State Congress these qualities of Jagan are precious for the party in future. Jagan draws huge crowds. Even if his detractors call it as mobilization, one can not deny even this mobilization power. It’s true that this YSR legacy is not completely self illuminating without the Congress stamp on it and Sonia’s image driving the party. Many of the detractors of Jagan especially the so called seniors are spent fuels. They no longer have the striking ability. They hardly won in the electoral casino. Thus, the congress high command is unable to show Jagan the wall. The party high command is caught between the devil and the deep sea as far as resolving the leadership tangle in the State Congress is concerned.

On the other hand Jagan camp has several limitations. First; it is not sure how many MLAs will continue to back them in the eventuality of raising the banner of revolt against the party high command. They are also not sure whether this swelling sympathy for YSR turns out into votes in case Jagan camp decides to revolt and precipitate a political crisis that would eventually lead to mid term elections. Precisely these hard political realities compel Jagan to reconcile. The business interests that are at the heart of ongoing political tussle will also be under question in case of Jagan camp turning against Congress high command especially when the party is in power at the centre. All this makes Jagan revolt against high command almost an impossible thing to happen. But, It is now or never for Jagan camp. In the wake of loosing an opportunity now at the hour of grief it is extremely difficult to continue the political support which Jagan enjoys now. Politics have a tendency to change complexions with remarkable alacrity .At a time when business and economic interests are deeply entrenched with politics; uncertainty over political loyalties has become much stronger.

Jagan camp is thus caught in a catch 22 situation. He and his loyalists are in a typical hamletian dilemma of to be or not to be as far as going forward in it’s lobbying with high command. Therefore Congress cauldron simmers on. Perhaps time should cool it. The possible out come may be an uneasy truce.