CM Has No Use For Ministers: Samarasimha Reddy

Former minister D K Samarasimha Reddy said that crucial issues like a hike in the price of power should be discussed in the cabinet.

Ministers are not rubber stamps, and they should be taken into confidence before taking a decision which has far reaching consequences, he said.

If the Chief Minister has his way, there is no need for ministers, he said, in an apparent jibe at his sister-in-law, D K Aruna who is the information minister.

Meanwhile, CPM floor leader Julakanti Ranga Reddy said that an all-party meet should have been convened to discuss the issue before increasing the power charges. YSR was an elected leader, and hence there was no hike of power charges during his term, while the tariff has increased steeply as Kiran Kumar Reddy is a nominated Chief Minister, YSRCP spokesperson Bajireddy Govardhan said.

However, Minister Kondru Murali has supported the Chief Minister saying that the decision was not unilateral, and that it would be discussed in the cabinet. Ministers C Ramachandriah and D L Ravindra Reddy were vocal about their opposition to the hike in power charges. (INN)