AP CM may resign and launch new political party: Ministers

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is contemplating to resign from his post against the state's division and launching a new political party, two state ministers said here today.
"The whole country says the (Telangana) bill for division is undemocratic. Still, they say that we will go ahead and make the bill win by hook or crook, pass even by voice vote. In this situation, there is a need for a new party. Kiran Kumar Reddy would definitely form a new party and try to keep the state united.
"We actually decided that we should quit on (February) 16th. But, main opposition BJP says that the bill has not been tabled. Chief Minister is not quitting today to strengthen that. When it is officially announced that the bill has been tabled in parliament, then he will quit and all of us would quit," state Law Minister Erasu Pratap Reddy told reporters.

He was speaking after a consultative meeting held by the Chief Minister here with several state ministers and MLAs from Seemandhra regions.
Speculation has been rife here about the CM's moves in the wake of the Centre going ahead with division.
BJP and six other parties had said on February 13 that the Telangana bill had not been tabled in the parliament though the ruling Congress asserted that bill was, indeed, introduced.
State Minor Irrigation Minister T G Venkatesh has also said that the Chief Minister planned to quit his post.
"There is an argument that the bill had not been tabled. BJP also says that bill was not tabled. In view of the advice (given by some Seemandhra MPs and intellectuals), we feel that tomorrow or day after tomorrow, as per the bill being tabled, we feel he may go. That is what we got as a signal," he said.