Handlooms and Textiles Minister P Shankar Rao on Sunday put his ministerial post, not to mention his political career, on the line, by saying that he would quit politics if he is unable to convince former Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to come back into the Congress fold "within 10 days."
Dr. Shankar Rao's ‘challenge', however, came with a rider that the Congress High Command should permit him to initiate ‘counselling sessions' with Jaganmohan Reddy.
The Minister stated the son of the former Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy is being surrounded by a coterie which can be best described as ‘acid legs'. According to Rao, these ‘acid legs' are misguiding Jaganmohan Reddy and had forced him to quit the Congress party.
"I will councel Jaganmohan Reddy and bring about a change in his negative attitude towards the Congress High Command," he stated.
Dr. Shankar Rao expressed confidence that Jaganmohan Reddy will come back to the Congress fold soon.
When asked, the Minister said that the Centre will take a clear decision on Telangana after the elections to the Assemblies of 5 states are conducted.
Dr. Shankar Rao appealed to Telangana Congress MPs, MLAs and MLCs not to trouble the party High Command over the separate statehood demand till then. He also asked the people of Telangana to wait patiently for the decision on Telangana by the Centre and not to resort to violence.