As wait nears, Andhra CM goes into a huddle

Chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has begun hectic parleys with MLAs and MPs at his official residence to suitably time his exit with much fanfare.

Reddy held a series of meetings with party leaders in this regard throughout the day as there is a possibility of the Centre pushing the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill, 2013, for discussion and vote in Parliament just ahead of the passage of the vote on account coming Monday itself.

For now, the passage of Telangana Bill will mark the outer limit of his continuation as chief minister as he is actively mulling an alternative plan such as floating a political party after leaving the office.

Moreover, he is directly targeting the Delhi leadership over the issue of bifurcation and this will also make it difficult for him to continue in the office. Some political observers point out that the Kiran Reddy's camp had started giving leaks about his willingness to quit the post only after the party high command hinted at stern measures following his dharna at Ram Lila Maidan in Delhi. Also, Reddy justified his being in chief minister's chair in the name of stalling the bifurcation bid.  

However, he is willing to wait till the last minute as he maintained yesterday that they had time till February 21, the last day of Parliament session. The option of taking up the Telangana Bill later in Parliament is also alive, according to him.

The  chief minister is currently asking MLAs and MPs to join him in starting a new political party, according to sources. However, it is still unclear as to how many MLAs would follow him if he decides to quit. Not many ministers were present among those visitors who congregated at his residence yesterday evening.

“Not all those who visited his residence may go with him. And some of those who were not present may also join him,”  a member of the legislative council (MLC), who was present at the meeting, said.

In all likelihood, the time of the present government will come to a close once Reddy resigns from the post of the chief minister as there is little scope to install someone else in his place.

The Governor rule would be the next possible alternative since the election schedule is expected within a fortnight.

A source in the chief minister’s camp, hinting at Reddy’s future political strategy, said once the state bifurcation is through, the elections would be fought on the plank of who would be the best in securing and protecting the rights of the Seamandhra region.