CM Quits Post Over Telangana

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy defended his decision to quit from the post of the CM of Andhra Pradesh in protest against the bifurcation of state.

Addressing his last press conference as the Chief Minister at his camp office at Begumpet on Wednesday, Kiran Kumar Reddy said that he had taken the decision for the Telugu people. He announced that he was resigning, not only as the Chief Minister, but also as an MLA and a Congress member.

"I am grateful to the Congress party for giving me the opportunity to be the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. This is not an easy decision for me," he said.

Kiran Kumar Reddy began his press conference by accusing all political parties of dividing the Telugu people for seats and power.

"I condemn the actions of the TDP, the YSRCP, the TRS, the BJP and also of the ruling Congress party, all of whom have played a role in causing irreparable damage to the Telugu people," he said.

He said that students, farmers and other sections of the socio-economic system in the state would now be forced to face the consequences of the division and they would now be forced to fight to get their share in resources like drinking water, energy and educational opportunities.

Kiran Kumar Reddy also accused the Centre of implementing the process of Telangana formation in haste. "The cabinet note on Telangana came as a table item. The ministers were not given even two hours to review the issue. The Group of Ministers (GoM) and all its actions were unconstitutional," he alleged.

Kiran Kumar Reddy also criticised the way the Telangana bill was tabled and passed in the Lok Sabha. He said that the Seemandhra MPs were attacked and later suspended. He said it was highly condemnable that the MPs whose state was being divided were not present in the House due to the aforementioned suspension.

Kiran Kumar Reddy also defended his decision to continue in his post after the Congress Working Committee had decided in favour of Telangana. "If I had quit earlier, then Telangana would have been created four months back. Thinking this, me and my colleagues decided to stay in power and put up a fight for the cause of the Telugu people," he claimed.

However, Kiran Kumar Reddy evaded questions on his plans to float a new political party. "I told you, this is for the Telugu people. It is not a selfish act. People will lose in this deal. The future of thousands of farmers, students, and other employees has been pushed into darkness," he said. (INN)