Dismiss CM And Botsa: Shankar Rao

Former minister Dr. P Shankar Rao, on Monday, predicted that the Congress would be washed out from the state in the ensuing by-elections if the High Command does not remove Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana from their posts.

Talking to media persons at the Congress Legislature Party office, Shankar Rao said that the party has suffered a lot due to the "attitudes" of Kiran Kumar Reddy and Botsa Satyanarayana.

He said that the Congress has received a major jolt due to the transfer of Anti-Corruption Bureau Additional Director Srinivas Reddy, who was heading the liquor syndicate probe. He said that the transfer has had an adverse impact on the government's image.

The former minister condemned Kiran Kumar Reddy's alleged comments that government employees were accepting bribes. Instead of controlling the administration, the CM has been making allegations against government employees, complained Shankar Rao.

Shankar Rao said that Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu lost power in 2004, since he acted against the interests of employees. He said thay the Congress, too, would lose power if it acts against government employees.

Shankar Rao alleged that the CM has been suppressing leaders who have launched a campaign against corruption. He asked the Congress High Command to thus take action against Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Responding to a question on the high drama between the TDP and the Congress in Vizianagaram incident, the former minister said that the Congress has incurred huge damages due to what was essentially an avoidable controversy. If the party does not remove the PCC chief, against whom allegations have been leveled in connection with the liquor syndicate, the image of the party and the government would be drubbed in the ensuing elections, predicted Shankar Rao.

Shankar Rao also appealed to Congress president Sonia Gandhi to implement Congress emissary Vayalar Ravi's recommendations to strengthen the party in the state. (INN)