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Its own CM against Andhra bifurcation, cautious Congress treads a thin line
Sensing that Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Reddy is playing to the gallery of anti-Telangana sentiments, a cautious Congress has adopted a wait and watch policy to deal with the crisis in the state.
Sensing that Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Reddy is playing to the gallery of anti-Telangana sentiments, a cautious Congress has adopted a wait and watch policy to deal with the crisis in the state.
A large part of Andhra Pradesh went out of gear due to agitations the Reddy administration allegedly didn’t try to contain. But several Congress leaders in New Delhi ruled out replacement of the chief minister as an immediate step.
Instead, the party is waiting to see how things unfold before deciding on any concrete measure such as the imposition of President’s rule or changing the chief minister.
A top Congress leader admitted that Reddy’s apparent reluctance to contain anti-Telangana agitations and recent interviews were expected as he had expressed his reservations to the Congress core committee against the bifurcation of the state.
“We also need to remember that he too belongs to Chittoor district in Rayalaseema, which is also TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu’s native place. He clearly is sending a signal to his supporters in Seemandhra region,” said a source.
Top Congress sources also pointed out that a new chief minister is no guarantee that the situation will come under control.
“There is also a question about finding a suitable replacement at such a volatile situation,” added another leader.
Top Congress leaders, however, admitted that if the situation goes out of control, imposition of President’s rule would be a better option than changing Kiran Reddy and making him a hero.
In an interview with a TV channel, Reddy argued that his resignation would not help resolve the Telangana tangle and said he would stay on and fight for a united state.
"Quitting is not the solution here; we have to debate the issue. We have to convince the people of the state as to why it should be united," Reddy told CNN-IBN.
"My post is not important but if I give it up, it will not help the cause. I will stay on and fight," he said.
