Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy wants President's rule in Andhra Pradesh after his resignation

Hyderabad: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy wants President Rule in the state after his resignation.

According to some Seemandhra MLAs who interacted with the Chief Minister on Sunday, Kiran Kumar Reddy said he is not planning to form a new government after his resignation.

They said that the CM was of the opinion that if some Seemandhra Congress MLAs also resign along with him, the high command may opt for President Rule in the state instead of forming a new government.

But they did not reply when asked if the formation of a new government could be stopped if only 10 or 12 Congress MLAs resign with the Chief Minister.

As things stand, Telangana Congress MLAs and more than 70 Seemandhra MLAs will support the high command if it decides to form a government when Kiran Kumar Reddy resigns.

Earlier, the CM’s much-awaited brainstorming session with Seemandhra ministers, MLAs, and MLCs did not result in any significant decision on resignations and also on launching a new party.

The session was attended by eight ministers, 28 MLAs and 8 eight MLCs. More than half the Seemandhra ministers were not invited to the meeting. Some Seemandhra ministers who were invited did not attend, saying they were held up in the districts.  The Congress has around 70 MLAs in Seemandhra excluding ministers.

Kiran takes leaders views

Hyderabad: After the brainstorming session with Seemandhra leaders, the Chief Minister met the leaders individually.

Some legislators like G Veera Siva Reddy (Kamalapur, Kadapa) suggested that the Chief Minister resign immediately and launch a party. But former minister J.C. Diwakar Reddy said there would be no use launching the party if the state was divided. He asked the Chief Minister to ponder over how many MLAs would sail with him.

The Chief Minister asked the leaders one question: “I have decided to resign. What is your opinion.” He did not speak of launching of a party.

The leaders had a range of replies for the CM. Some told him to resign immediately, others suggested that he wait.

But the Chief Minister indicated that he may resign on February 18 or 19, after the debate starts in the Lok Sabha on the Telangana Bill. He said that once the debate starts, the Bill would be passed in the Lok Sabha.

But minister T.G. Venkatesh said that if the Chief Minister resigns now, the signals will go to the people that the Telangana Bill had been introduced in the Lok Sabha; the Chief Minister is still insisting that it has not been introduced.

Speaking to media after the meeting, Venkatesh said the Chief Minister would not resign now, to support the BJP contention that the Telangana Bill has not been introduced in the Lok Sabha.
He said if the Telangana Bill is introduced in Parliamentm the Chief Minister would resign. “In two or three days the Chief Minister may take a decision on his resignation,” he said.

Minister Erasu Pratapa Reddy said Kiran Kumar Reddy would launch his party. Asked which party they would join — reports are that he would join the TD — Pratap Eddy replied, they would join the TD or the YSRC. They would take a decision after talking to the party cadre.

According to sources they will join the Chief Minster’s party, if he floats one, if the state remains united. If the state is divided, they will join the TDP. They were of the opinion that the Chief Minister’s party would become a force if the state was united.

According to Pratap Reddy, the Chief Minister will not attend the protest rallies and public meeting on February 17 and 18 being organised by the APNGOs in New Delhi. He said he and ministers Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy, T.G. Venkatesh and Ganta Srinivasa Rao would attend the rallies.