Former minister Gade Venkata Reddy on Saturday criticised the call by Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy to Congress MLAs supporting Kadapa leader Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to resign and contest again under the former MP's banner as a 'mistake'.
Speaking to media persons at the CLP media point on Assembly premises, the former Endowments Minister said that Kiran Kumar Reddy should have left the decision of action to be taken against the dissidents MLAs to the Congress Disciplinary Committee, the Pradesh Congress Committee and the party high command. He said that the Chief Minister had acted in 'haste' by calling for the MLAs to quit their posts.
Venkata Reddy further added that the MLAs had not resigned from the Congress party, and were siding with Jaganmohan Reddy since he was raising legitimate issues regarding the people.
To take offense against their overt support to the former MP was not advisable, Venkata Reddy opined.
Kiran Kumar Reddy had earlier in the day lashed out at the MLAs supporting Jaganmohan Reddy, had and criticised them for switching sides to desert the ruling party. He said that the legislators, elected in 2009 on Congress tickets, were now supporting the Kadapa MP.
The Chief Minister had also challenged those MLAs to resign first before hurling any comment against the Congress party which supported their candidature.
Reacting sharply against those MLAs who sided with the rebel leader and former MP, Kiran Kumar Reddy had also made it clear that the MLAs under reference were elected on the Congress ticket and symbol, and they had no right to speak, particularly after switching sides. They should resign from their seats before making any comment, the Chief Minster had said.
Referring to the Rachabanda program which was to be launched across the state, Venkata Reddy said that the program had been envisaged by former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, and was dedicated to the people.
Venkata Reddy's comments are seen by political observers as an expression of his displeasure at being left out of the state cabinet after Kiran Kumar Reddy took charge.
The criticism of the Chief Minister by such a senior leader also points to the fact that the Congress is virtually split on supporting the son of the former Chief Minister who has been largely credited for bringing the party to power in 2 successive elections.
Courtesy: INN
filed in:Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, N Kiran Kumar Reddy