In a significant development, two senior ministers today met PCC President Botsa Satyanarayana, in the backdrop of the dissent over Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy launching welfare schemes unilaterally.
Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha and ministers K Jana Reddy, D L Ravindra Reddy and Vatti Vasantha Kumar were closeted with the state Congress president.
Damodar Rajanarsimha distanced himself from the official program attended by Kiran Kumar Reddy at his home district Medak. He skipped the function and left for Colombo.
Botsa Satyanarayana himself openly expressed ignorance about the welfare schemes launched by the CM, while D L Ravindra Reddy and K Jana Reddy were vocal about the Bangaru Thalli scheme that is purported to benefit the girl child.
The dissent between the PCC president and the Chief Minister has been in the open ever since the ACB's raids on liquor shops.
Next, D L Ravindra Reddy has been a known critic of Kiran Kumar Reddy, and had expressed his displeasure when the cabinet had decided not to prosecute Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao in the VANPIC case.
Also, the wedge between the CM and his deputy has been growing for quite some time, which was the reason why he was separately called by the Congress High Command for discussions on the state's affairs.
What the outcome of the meeting is remains to be seen. (INN)
filed in:Botsa Satyanarayana, N Kiran Kumar Reddy, K Jana Reddy, D L Ravindra Reddy, Damodar Rajanarasimha, Congress