Sridhar Babu turns tables on CM, Quits
HYDERABAD: Civil Supplies Minister D Sridhar Babu, who was upset after Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy stripped him of his additional charge of legislative affairs, resigned from the Cabinet Thursday night. The move is certain to kick up a row in the State Assembly which reassembles Friday after Christmas and New Year recess to resume debate on the Telangana bill.
Despite efforts by Ministers from Telangana and AICC observer Ramachandra Khuntia to persuade him not to quit, Sridhar Babu sent his resignation letter to the Chief Minister through his personal secretary.
Congress leaders believe Sridhar's exit could put the Chief Minister in a spot of bother. If he accepts the resignation, he invites the wrath of Telangana leaders and if he doesn't, his image will take a beating in Seemandhra, they opined.
Telangana leaders, sources said, are all set to corner the Chief Minister demanding what prompted him to effect the change in portfolio at a time when the Telangana bill is already before the House.
It now seems the T bill may not be taken up for discussion for some time to come. Earlier, it was thought the debate might begin at least Monday.
Sridhar Babu had been contemplating resignation ever since he was divested of legislative affairs portfolio on New Year's eve. As if rubbing salt into the wounds, the portfolio was handed over to integrationist S Sailajanath.
Senior ministers from Telangana such as K Jana Reddy asked Sridhar Babu not to resign. Jana Reddy met Khuntia, who had come to Hyderabad to participate in the yatra of Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao at Amangal in Mahabubnagar district, and discussed the issue with him.
Later, Sridhar met Khuntia and told him he was aware that it was the Chief Minister's prerogative to rejig portfolios but objected to the manner in which it was done. Sources said he had informed Khuntia that had Kiran kept him in the loop, he wouldn't have protested.
After the meeting, the duo, along with Jana Reddy, attended VHR's bus yatra at Amangal. Khuntia told reporters the party's Telangana leaders were unhappy with the unilateral decision of the Chief Minister. Sridhar sent his resignation after consulting his supporters from Karimnagar such as DCC president Ravinder Rao.
News Posted: 3 January, 2014
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