Sonia, Singh Discuss Cabinet Rebels

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Friday convened a meeting of the Core Committee meeting at Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh's residence at 7, Race Course Road.

The meeting, which is underway at the time of filing this report, was attended by Union Home Minister P Chidambaram, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Defence Minister A K Anthony, Sonia Gandhi's Political Secretary Ahmed Patel, and Law Minister and In-Charge of A P Affairs M Veerappa Moily.

The Core Committee is expected to take stock of the latest situation in Andhra Pradesh after Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy assumed office. The committee is also expected to continue the meeting on Saturday.

According to sources, the meeting will also discuss the dissatisfaction and unhappiness expressed by a few ministers over the allotment of portfolios to them.

Sources say that the allotment of the post of Deputy Chief Minister to a legislator from the Telangana region will also be discussed at the meeting, in addition to the selection of the Speaker of the A P Legislative Assembly and the next PCC chief.

Earlier, the High Command had directed Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas to come to Delhi and brief it over the situation in the state. Following the direction, Srinivas had left for New Delhi on Friday evening.

The PCC chief had a discussion with Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and other senior leaders before he left for Delhi.

According to sources, the PCC chief will inform the High Command about the anti-party statements of Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, who declared an open war against the Chief Minister. Srinivas is also expected to brief the High Command over the situation in the Jagan camp and the latter's plans of forming a new party.

The Core Committee will chalk out a strategy to put a check on former Jagan and the Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu after getting feedback from the PCC chief, the sources said.

Courtesy: INN