Kiran feigns ignorance over new party

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who till the other day had been confident of stalling the T-process, is now singing a different tune.

'I do not predict what will happen in the future, because I am not a 'predictor',' was the terse reply from the chief minister when scribes had sought to know whether the ensuing general polls would take place in one state or two.

In an informal chat with reporters here on Saturday, the Chief Minister claimed he had never stated that he would launch his own political party.

'Me floating a party is a figment of media imagination. I had a good laugh after going through the reports. I am born and brought up in the Congress. Our family has fought 12 elections on the party ticket after independence,' he added.

Asked about the origin of the speculation that he would float a party, Kiran Reddy recalled that he had visited East Godavari district recently. At that time, some Congress MLAs expressed apprehension over their political future in the wake of the Centre's T-decision. 'Then, I asked them to wait till January 23 to discuss it.'

'I never told them that I would float a new party. I only asked them to wait till January 23, the deadline set by the President to complete the debate on the T-bill so that we could hold a brainstorming session for one or two days to discuss our political future,' he said.

Stating that he never divulges his mind to the media on any issue, Kiran said he was not a man of words, but a man of deeds. Kiran acknowledged that some of the Congress MLAs have fears over the prospects of the party in the ensuing general polls.

When asked what sort of assurance he would give them, Kiran said, 'I am not a predictor to predict the future. Nobody knows what will happen in the future. Are we permanent here?'

Asked whether he agreed with the view of the T-Congress leaders that bifurcation of AP would help Congress retain power in Telangana, the chief minister replied, 'I am not a predictor. However, I can say one thing; no pundit can accurately predict the result of any poll or the fate of a movie at the box office.' Citing the results of Delhi Assembly elections, he said one event could change the result.

Reacting to corruption allegations made by some Telangana Congress leaders at him, Kiran Reddy said, 'My term as Chief Minister to this day is an open book. Those making allegations shall come out with proof. They can even go to court.'