Governor asks Kiran to run caretaker govt in AP

 Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, who accepted Kiran Kumar Reddy’s resignation from the chief minister’s post on Wednesday, asked the latter to continue as a caretaker chief minister on Friday.

In his resignation letter, Reddy had said he was not keen on continuing as caretaker chief minister. Reddy’s council of ministers were also asked to continue in caretaker mode, according to a communiqué from the Raj Bhavan.

The Governor sent a detailed report on the political situation in Andhra Pradesh to the Centre after Reddy resigned, in which he recommended President’s Rule. Andhra Pradesh is scheduled to go to the polls simultaneously with the Parliamentary elections in April-May this year. A special officer from the Governor’s office flew to New Delhi on Friday morning with two copies of the report, one each for the President and the Prime Minister. Political circles in the State capital are abuzz over whether President’s rule will be imposed or the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) will elect a new leader to succeed CM Reddy.

Home Minister Sushilkumar Shinde met Congress President Sonia Gandhi on Friday morning and explained the situation in AP, said the communique. In his report, Narasimhan, a former Intelligence Bureau chief, recommended the imposition of President’s Rule in Andhra Pradesh. 

Meanwhile there is also pressure on the Congress high command to have an interim arrangement to avoid President’s rule - this could possibly involve appointing a replacement for Kiran Reddy. 

AP Congress chief Botsa Satyanarayana and former cabinet ministers like Anam Ramnarayan Reddy,  who were all keen on becoming chief minister, called on the Governor at Raj Bhavan on Friday, triggering off more speculation.