Kiran Reddy's intent to float new party comes under fire

Senior Cong leaders mount attack on the chief minister

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A section of state ministers from the Seemandhra region launched a scathing attack on chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Monday for his intent to float a new party after quitting the post.   

"This is nothing but a betrayal. We had wholeheartedly supported the chief minister in all the efforts aimed at keeping the state united. But nothing will justify for someone to leave the party in times of crisis after enjoying the power and positions all these years. The real intentions behind Kiran Kumar Reddy's aggressive posture against the party's stand have now become clear to us," C Ramachandraiah, a senior minister in the state Cabinet, said.

Two other ministers, Kondru Murali, and D Manikya Vara Prasad, also came down heavily on the chief minister stating no one would back such a move. "People  will look down upon him if he quits the Congress to float his own party in the name of united Andhra cause," Murali said in a media interaction.

These statements seemed a part of a larger offensive mounted against the chief minister by the party men after he began consultations in an apparent bid to enlist the support of as many leaders in the Congress as possible for his future course of action.

To counter the chief minister's plans, Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) president B Satyanarayana held a meeting with ministers and party MLAs in the evening, reportedly attended by more number of senior ministers all loyal to the party high command. The PCC president later said all those leaders who attended the meeting had reiterated their loyalty to the Congress party. "I appeal those who are thinking of leaving the party to change their mind. You will achieve nothing by quitting the party," he said in an apparent reference to the reported moves by the chief minister.

He also wrote a letter to the chief minister requesting him to enlist the support of  all the political parties in the state to stall the process of state bifurcation.

Sources, however, said the chief minister too called a meeting with his close confidants in the evening in the light of the reports that the Telangana Bill would be taken up for discussion in Parliament on Tuesday. Pitani Satyanarayana, a minister loyal to Kiran Reddy. said he would join the new party if his leader decides to float one.