Hyderabad: With the States Re-organization Bill getting the Presidential nod and all set to be introduced in both houses of Parliament, rumours are rife that Andhra Pradesh chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy would soon be putting in his papers.
The chief minister, who had earlier threatened to quit his position and the Congress party, is now faced with a situation where statehood for Telengana might become a reality soon with the ruling Congress reportedly getting some commitments from the main opposition party BJP.
Reports suggest that some of Reddy's party colleagues from the Seemandhra region are keen for the chief minister to continue in office at least till February 21 when the ongoing session of the Parliament is scheduled to end.
Members of the Andhra cabinet claim that the decision to quit was confirmed though the timing was yet to be decided. Sources said the decision could come within the next two or three days. based on the situation that emerges in Parliament.
The chief minister had met governor ESL Narasimhan at the Raj Bhavan yesterday and observers claim that this meeting assumes significance in the wake of the governor's departure for Delhi scheduled for tomorrow.
The situation is tough for the legislators who had deferred their resignation on the advice of Reddy following the Congress Working Committee's decision to reorganize the state on July 30 last year. With the T-Bill now scheduled to be passed and the chief minister contemplating resignation post its introduction in Parliament, these MLAs are caught in a bind.
In recent times, the chief minister has faced flak from both the proponents and opponents of the T-Bill with PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana who has gone on record stating that Reddy should have resigned as soon as the CWC decided to divide the state. On their part, the Congress top brass is also reportedly waiting for Reddy to put down his papers as then they would not have to send him off, sources said.
