Kiran plans indefinite fast in Delhi

Hyderabad: Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is said to be getting ready to become another Kejriwal by taking up an indefinite fast, opposing the bifurcation of State anytime after January 30, demanding that the Centre prepare a proper Bill with full information like aims and objects, and then seek the views of the State Assembly.

According to some Seemandhra leaders close to the Chief Minister, a final decision on the venue would be taken after the deadline for the debate on the Draft AP Re-organisation Bill 2013 comes to an end on January 30.

A senior leader, whom Kiran has been confiding in on the strategies to be adopted to oppose the T Bill, said the T leaders feel that all is over and T State would be formed once the Assembly sends the Bill back to the President. However, the real game would begin thereafter, he said.

Sources said Kiran is not willing to give up the fight so easily, and is contemplating to give a shocker to the high command. He is yet to finalise the venue and it could even be New Delhi, the source said.

However, some feel that if Kiran takes up fast in Delhi, though he may succeed in drawing the attention of the leaders of all national parties including AICC Vice-President Rahul Gandhi, he may face problems as the government there may not allow him to sit on fast for more than a day or two. If it is Hyderabad, it could lead to tension as he may face resistance from T activists.

What has been causing worry to the Chief Minister is that despite his aggressive stand against the decision of the party high command to divide the State during his meetings or in the Assembly, it does not appear to have shown any impact on the high command.

The response in Seemandhra region to his opposition to the Bill also did not help the movement get a further fillip. Even the `Chalo Assembly' pro gramme did not get them the kind of mileage they had been anticipating.

Hence, if Kiran takes up the fast, it could perhaps give a new turn to political situation in the State, a leader said.

Kiran is said to have discussed this proposal with Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal and some other leaders. It is said that Kiran is also contemplating to ask Seemandhra MLAs to write a letter to the President of India to give more time to discuss the Bill since T ministers and MLAs had stalled the proceedings and did not allow them to speak on the Bill.

They would emphasise that the disturbance caused by the T Ministers and leaders had resulted in the leader of opposition N Chandrababu Naidu also missing a chance to speak on the Bill.

Naidu was given time to speak on Monday by Speaker N Manohar, but he could not make it.