BJP ministers offer to quit AP Cabinet

Vijayawada: After a series of developments in the state ex-ecutive committee meeting, the AP unit of the BJP has decided request its national leadership to end its alliance with the Telugu Desam in the state.

Accusing the Telugu Desam leaders of insulting its national leaders, BJYM state president Vishnuvardhan Reddy suggested  two BJP ministers  to quit the TD-led State Cabinet.

Responding to the suggestion, endowments minister Pydikondala Manikyala Rao  said he would resign within five minutes, if the party directs him to do so.

Mr Vishnuvardhan Reddy’s demand for resignation was preceded by a chaotic BJP state executive meeting, whi-ch witnessed heated argument between state party president Kamb-hampati Haribabu and senior party leader Lakshmipathi Raja.

When Mr Raja expres-sed displeasure over   the way the state unit was being run, Mr Hari-babu tried to remind him about the party’s rules and regulations. 

Mr Raja accused top BJP leaders in the state of being too soft towa-rds the TD in the state, which led to the TD undermining the interests of the BJP in the state. 

Responding to Mr Har-ibabu’s remarks about the party rules, Mr Raja asked him not to suspect the integrity of any leader in the party. 

“We are equally respo-nsible and sensible. We know as to how to maintain the decorum of the party,” Mr Raja said.

The heated argument between the two leadersissue ended only after the intervention of minister Manikyala Rao, Purandheswari, Somu Veerraju and others. 

Earlier in the day, BJP state president   gave a detail rebuttal of the TD’s allegations against the BJP. He had urged party leaders and cadre to disseminate the facts to the people. 

Later, speaking to the media, BJP floor leader P. Vishnukumar Raju said that they will play the role of Opposition and felt that the TD was not properly following the alliance dharma. “We will revert back the attack of the TD,” he said.