Hyderabad, Sep 15 - Ministers in Andhra Pradesh loyal to late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy are confident that the central leadership of Congress party will name his son Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy as the next chief minister.

They got the impression after meeting K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao, a close friend and advisor of the late chief minister, Tuesday that the central leadership was positively inclined towards naming 37-year-old Jagan as YSR's successor.

'We hope that the central leadership will take an appropriate decision at an appropriate time. We are confident that it would keep the sentiments of people and people's representatives in mind while taking a decision,' said Minister for Small Scale Industries D.K. Aruna.

State Health Minister D. Nagender told reporters that the decision of the central leadership on YSR's successor would be final and that the ministers would abide by it.

'The high command will also decide when the Congress Legislature Party will meet to elect a new leader,' he said.

Nagender, who has already stated that they were ready to make any sacrifice to see Jagan as chief minister, hoped that the leadership would make an announcement after elections in Maharashtra.

Ramachandra Rao, on his return from New Delhi, briefed state ministers about the outcome of his talks with the central leaders. KVP, as he is popularly known in the political circles, told ministers that the leadership would take some time before deciding on the successor to YSR.