Andhra CM calls on Sonia amid demand to drop tainted ministers

Amid mounting pressure to drop tainted ministers, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy Friday called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi.

The meeting assumed significance in view of the demand by both the opposition and also a section of leaders within the ruling party to drop the ministers facing charges in YSR Congress party leader Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy's disproportionate assets case.

The chief minister, who is camping in the national capital for two days and was scheduled to return to Hyderabad Friday, has been asked to stay back till Saturday, party sources said.

After Congress core committee's meeting where the issue of tainted ministers is likely to be discussed Friday evening, Kiran Kumar is expected to meet Gandhi again.

Home Minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy and Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao have been named as accused by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Jagan case. Three other ministers have also received Supreme Court notices in the same case.

The ministers, who also served during the cabinet of Jagan's father Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy (2004-09), had allegedly issued controversial orders, benefitting companies which invested in Jagan's business.

The demand to drop the tainted ministers gathered momentum after Ashwini Kumar and Pawan Kumar Bansal quit the central cabinet in the wake of allegations against them.

Earlier, Kiran Kumar and state Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana held separate meetings with Congress general secretary in charge of party affairs Ghulan Nabi Azad. They briefed him of the party affairs in the state. The chief minister is understood to have complained against some of his cabinet colleague, who were criticizing him openly.

Some ministers have criticised the chief minister saying he was taking unilateral decisions without discussing them in the cabinet.