Ex-Andhra CM Kiran Kumar Reddy rejoins Congress

Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday rejoined the Congress that he left in protest against the bifurcation of the state in 2014.

Reddy went to the Congress headquarters here and rejoined the party in the presence of General Secretary and former Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and party leader Randeep Singh Surjewala.

Earlier, Reddy met party President Rahul Gandhi.

Reddy was the last Chief Minister of a united Andhra Pradesh before the formation of Telangana on June 2, 2014. He had succeeded K. Rosaiah as Chief Minster in 2011.

Addressing a press briefing, Kiran Reddy said: "I am very happy that I am coming back to the Congress family. Although I resigned as Chief Minister, I cannot be separated from the Congress because in my family we were MLAs for nearly 8 terms - my father and me.

"Whatever identity I have got today is because of the Congress. I was an MLA for four terms, was the Chief Whip, the Speaker of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and the Chief Minister. In the present circumstances too, I strongly feel that the Congress should be strengthened and Rahul Gandhiji's (party President) hands should be also strengthened," he added.

"Unless, the Congress comes back to power in Delhi, justice will not be done to the states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana."

Chandy praised Reddy for doing "many good things" when he was the Chief Minister.

On the 'No-confidence motion to be moved by the TDP during Parliament's monsson session, Surjewala said: "(This) will be deliberated upon by the Congress Parliamentary Party."

--IANS

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