Kiran Kumar Reddy may resign today

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday indicated that his three year and three month tenure might come to an end on Thursday with him resigning his post in protest against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

His resignation would coincide with the tabling of the Telangana Bill in Parliament, as well as the APNGO’s call for a bandh, on Thursday. Speaking to media at the Assembly after the state’s vote on account budget for 2014-15 was endorsed by voice vote, the chief minister said he had one more day to roll out his political
agenda.

“Whether I will remain in the Congress and as chief minister, you will know tomorrow (on Thursday),” he indicated. The chief minister and his group of Seemandhra MLAs are campaigning for the state remaining united in opposition to the Centre and party high command.

Reddy was jubilant over Tuesday’s incidents in Delhi, where four Union ministers from the state – Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, Purandeswari, Chiranjeevi and Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy – strode into the well of the Lok Sabha in protest against the state’s bifurcation, leading to sessions being repeatedly adjourned. Ministers Kishore Chandra Deo, M M Pallam Raju and Killi Kripa Rani, too, stood up and raised slogans from their seats in the House.

Commenting on the disruptions in the House, the chief minister told his supporters that he had been proved correct. “I told Congress leaders (Digvijay Singh) that nobody would take the bifurcation for granted,” he said.

Reddy had a word of applause for all Union ministers and called them up to express solidarity with them. There was an air of happiness in his office when BJP leader Advani said on Tuesday that the BJP would not support a faulty bill.