Cong not to take action against CM

Kiran Kumar Reddy had termed T- Bill faulty

The Congress on Monday indicated that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy may not attract any disciplinary action for his outburst in the assembly against the bill to carve out a separate Telangana state.

“The party has not given any whip on this particular matter,” AICC general secretary Mukul Wasnik said, in response to a query.

Reddy had termed the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill faulty and also sought permission of the Speaker of the state assembly to move a resolution to reject the bill. The move had drawn angry retorts from Telangana leaders.

Wasnik said all members were free to express their views. In private, Congress leaders conceded that the chief minister was after all expressing views of the people of the Seemandhra region, who are against the bifurcation of the state.

“There is nothing wrong in what he is doing. After all he also has to address his constituency,” a leader said on condition of anonymity. This is not the first time that Reddy has spoken out against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, a decision taken by the Congress Working Committee through a resolution on July 30 last.

He hails from the Rayalaseema region of the state and has been passionately espousing the cause of an united Andhra Pradesh.

The Congress has said that it was committed to the cause of Telangana state and a Bill to give effect to the decision would be tabled in Parliament in the session beginning February 5.

According to the Constitution, it is not mandatory for the Centre to accept the views of the Andhra Pradesh assembly on the bifurcation of the state.

Meanwhile, the Group of Ministers on Telangana are expected to meet after the Andhra Pradesh assembly returns the Bill to the Centre. The ministers are expected to give final touches to the Bill before its introduction in Parliament.

The Congress expects major political parties to back the Bill.