TDP to continue fight till all tainted ministers are dropped

Terming the resignations of two Andhra Pradesh ministers charged in Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy's case only a partial victory, TDP chief N. Chandrababu Naidu Sunday said their fight would continue till all tainted ministers are dropped from the state cabinet.

He was reacting to Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan accepting resignations of Home Minister P. Sabitha Indra Reddy and Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, both chargesheeted in YSR Congress party leader Jaganmohan Reddy's illegal assets case.

Talking to national media here, the leader of opposition said the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) would not allow the Congress government to continue shielding the tainted ministers.

Naidu said his party would boycott the tainted ministers during the second phase of budget session of the state assembly.

"We will not hear replies from them. We have many other options. We are working on how to put pressure on the government," he said when asked about the TDP's strategy in the assembly.

Naidu said TDP's 'Mahanadu' (state-level convention) beginning in Hyderabad Monday would discuss the issue of tainted ministers.

The former chief minister said the resignations of two ministers would strengthen the case and the TDP's fight against corruption. He said he would be more happy if the properties of Jaganmohan Reddy and also those of corrupt ministers were confiscated.

Naidu demanded that three other ministers facing allegations in Jaganmohan Reddy's case, a minister convicted for Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA) violations, two ministers involved in liquor and sand mafia and another minister accused of money laundering be dropped.

The TDP has submitted memorandums to the governor and also to President Pranab Mukherjee, demanding sacking of tainted ministers.