The ministers would have to be sworn in again following the death of the chief minister, otherwise they would cease to be ministers, Tiwari said.

YSR died in a helicopter crash Sep 2 and the next morning his body was found along with four others accompanying him in the dense Nallamala forests in Kurnool district.

The same day Finance Minister K. Rosaiah was installed as the chief minister to avert constitutional breakdown.

There was utter confusion for the last two days over whether the ministers would have to be sworn in again. Rosaiah had Saturday told reporters that he sent a letter to the governor requesting him to allow the ministers to continue without having to take oath afresh.

However, the governor sent a letter to the chief minister's office that the ministers needed to take oath again.

Advocate General D.V. Sitaram and Chief Secretary P. Ramakant Reddy also met Rosaiah and the governor to discuss the issue.

Rosaiah apprised the Congress party's central leadership of the situation as the high command had already made it clear that his taking over as chief minister was only a temporary arrangement.

Amid the growing demand to make YSR's son as the next chief minister, the central leadership said it would take a decision on the leadership issue only after the seven-day mourning period is over.