Hyderabad: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, who had decided to resign after opposing the Telangana Bill in the Assembly, is now certain that the bifurcation of the state will not be completed before the next general election and is, therefore, not contemplating resigning before then.
When some Seemandhra ministers had resigned to protest the bifurcation, the Chief Minister had told them not to take a hasty decision and that all Seemandhra Congress MLAs and ministers, including himself, will resign after opposing the Telangana Bill in the Assembly. He repeated this on several occasions.
Recently, though, the Chief Minister has been telling Seemandhra politicians that he is confident that the state will not be divided before the next general election, as there is not enough time to pass the Bill in Parliament and, moreover, the BJP won’t support the Telangana Bill in Parliament for various reasons.
“The Chief Minister is confident that the BJP will oppose the Telangana Bill in Parliament. He has reliable information on this, but I don’t know how and from where he got this information. When we met the Chief Minister he repeatedly said that the BJP will not support the Telangana Bill in Parliament,” said a Seemandhra minister who is close to the CM.
According to sources, this development has prompted the Chief Minister to change his decision on resigning if the Bill is defeated in the state Assembly, since it is the passage in Parliament that is crucial. If it is not passed in Parliament, the state remains intact till the next general election and Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy will continue to be its Chief Minister.
Next: MLAs suspicious of CM’s party plans
MLAs suspicious of CM’s party plans
Hyderabad: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Seemandhra Congress MLAs are trying to read each other’s minds. While the CM is trying to ascertain the MLAs’ views on bifurcation of the state, the legislators are keen on finding out if Kiran Kumar Reddy is launching a new political party.
Till now, the CM has not given any hint about his party plans even though the Seemandhra MLAs were insisting that he clarify his stand. The MLAs are worried about their future if the CM backtracks on his party plans at the last moment.
Sources close to the Chief Minister opine that he will launch a political party after he resigns. However, some others do not think he will venture to start a party.
Guntur Congress MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao said after meeting with Chief Minister on Saturday, “I wanted to join a new party if the CM launch it, but he does not have any such plans.”
One minister from Rayalaseema, who is close to the CM, ruled out the possibility of Kiran Kumar Reddy floating a new party. Sources said that the launch of a party will depend on circumstances under which the CM submits his resignation.
Several ministers and Seemandhra MLAs who wants to join in new political party if the Chief Minister launches have asked him to tell his mind. But the Chief Minister did not told yes or no and kept them in suspense.
Now Seemandhra ministers and MLAs worried about their political future if the Chief Minister says in the last minute that he doesn’t launch political party.
They are in an opinion by that time other political parties will close their doors and they don’t get a chance to join. If they remain in the Congress party they were sure that no chance of winning in the elections as people was angry on Congress for its decision on state division.
According to sources one of the Chief Minister's close aide is making all arrangements for launching a new political party by the Chief Minister. Sources said that the launching of a political party will depend on the situation after the Chief Minister resigns his post.
Seemandhra Congress leaders including some ministers those who have no confidence on the Chief Minister on launching a political party are making efforts to join in other parties.
PCC Chief Botsa Satyanarayana’s recent comments on some Seemandhra Congress leaders including ministers got significant. Botsa said those who have decided to jump into other parties are criticizing the Congress high command on its decision on state bifurcation.
