Kiran keep his options open
Hyderabad: The next 10 days will prove to be crucial in the state political scenario as speculations are rife that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is all set to resign and launch his own political party.
Kiran Kumar Reddy had earlier made it clear that he was ready to give up his post to keep the State united Kiran is also contemplating to skip the AICC meeting to be held in New Delhi on January 17 where the name of Rahul Gandhi would be announced as the prime ministerial candidate.
Kiran has been telling ministers close to him that he would prefer to be present in the assembly on Friday as the discussion on draft T Bill would resume on that day.
If Kiran gives a miss to this meeting, it could be a clear indication that he had burnt his bridges with the Congress high command. Even three of the six rebel MPs.
Vundavalli Arun Kumar, Sabbam Hari and G Harsha Kumar who got the invite for the AICC meeting have decided not to attend the meeting.
Arun Kumar and Sabbam Hari said that it would not be proper on their part to attend the meeting since they had already resigned from the party, though it is yet to be officially accepted by the high command.
Harsha Kumar is in Jerusalem. It may be mentioned here that another MP Lagadapati Rajagopal had given a notice seeking that a resolution in support of united Andhra Pradesh be moved at the AICC meeting.
Though this has been rejected by the AICC leadership, efforts are on to see that Rajagopal does not attend the meeting lest it could cause some embarrassing moments to the party leaders.
Against this backdrop, it is being said that Kiran is examining different options that are available to him. One is to resign soon after making a power packed speech on January 23 in the Assembly, opposing the division of the state and announce launching of a new party.
The other option is to wait till the vote-on-account budget is passed in the Assembly sometime during early February. He is also considering whether it would be good if he waits till the T Bill is introduced in Parliament before
taking the final step. Kiran is said to be discussing all these options with the leaders who are close to him during the last two days.
Interestingly, since Tuesday several flexis have come up in Hyderabad under the banner of Samaikya Andhra. In Guntur district, some propaganda vans with same name and banner are making the rounds and streetplays are also being enacted.
They also have some publicity material. However, it is not known as to who is behind this. But it is being said that Kiran would finally name his party as Samaikya Andhra Party.
Meanwhile, the Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas, Panabaka Lakshmi on Wednesday dismissed speculation that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy would quit Congress to float a new party against the decision to bifurcate the state.
News Posted: 16 January, 2014
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