AP rebellion: Kiran's govt in trouble; Cong swings into action
Hyderabad: With allocation of portfolios to the newly sworn-in ministers triggering a rebellion against the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, the Congress high command today swung into action to defuse the crisis threatening to destabilise the Kiran Kumar Reddy government.
As part of efforts to mollify the dissatisfied ministers, the Chief Minister has despatched ministers Aanam Ramanarayana Reddy and Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy for talks with the rebellious ministers.
V Vasant Kumar, who was Rural Development Minister earlier and now made Tourism Minister, sent his resignation to the Chief Minister late last night while many others were contemplating to follow suit.
Another senior minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, who has been shifted from the important revenue portfolio to roads and building, is said to be under tremendous pressure from his followers in Srikakulam district to step down rather than stomach the 'ignominy'.
Party sources said Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel and Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke to senior minister Botsa Satyanarayana, who is suspected to be behind the rebellion against Kiran Kumar Reddy. Botsa reportedly told the AICC leaders that a lot of 'injustice' was done to the backward castes in the allocation of portfolios as all the plum departments were handed over to Reddys only.
The AICC leaders reportedly promised to talk to the Chief Minister and get back even as several sulking ministers met this morning to discuss their strategy.
Botsa, in fact, told the Chief Minister late last night that 'this (government) is not your private limited company' and cautioned that the issue would have serious repercussions.
Cooperation Minister K Venkata Krishna Reddy, who met few ministers at the Minister’s Quarters here, told reporters that the issue would end soon.
"Congress is all one family and everything will be alright soon," he said. Replying to a query, he said Vasant Kumar has not quit as MLA. Asserting that problems, if any, can be sorted out, State Congress president D Srinivas appealed to the ministers to observe restraint.
"If there are any small defects anywhere, they can be resolved. My request to ministers is that they should observe restraint. I will speak to the Chief Minister and this issue should not snowball into a problem. My appeal to ministers is to observe restraint," he said.
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You guys have been given the portfolios to serve the people, not to enjoy the pie. So better take the new roles and serve the people, and please stop moaning.
This whole story reveals what these politicians are up to. Politicians trying to become MLAs. MLAs aspiring to become ministers and now some ministers are disappointed as they did not get plum ministries.
Some thing wrong in our electoral system with our mentality
Vasanth Kumar was taken good decision. But one thing, don't go to Jagan's party.
This hue and cry is the handiwork of Botsa Satyanarayana who was aspiring to be the CM. CM Kiran Kumar shouldn't have taken these tainted ministers to his cabinet in the first place. Botsa should thank CM Kiran Kumar for retaining him in his cabinet. If he is a true leader and care for masses he could help them without any position. Only corrupt leaders crave for positions, so that they can make fortune out of these positions.
The behaviour of ministers is very very sad. A day or two earlier, all of them had assured the party that all are with them and will abide by the party high command. They have lined up in queues in Delhi for the berths. Their behaviour is raising the fundamental question about the meaning of collective responsibility of the cabinet and the government. Is it the sole property of the individual who is holding the particular ministry? Is this the culture of the leaders in the party? Is this the way the ministers have to behave when the party is in doldrums with the rebellion by YS Jagan? What message are they sending to the people of the state? Will it not strengthen the hands and voice of Jagan and his associates? Can’t they bear it inside and take it up with the party high command about their grievances? Do they dream that by the evening the list will be altered? Even it happens how they can assure that the others who got changed will not agitate? Don’t they understand? Already the party is in the decline in popularity which is established by the Bihar results where the party is not only defeated but marginalized. It is a scar on the dignity of the people of Andhra Pradesh.
See how much corruption exists in our politics. If they are not corrupt why they are complaining for different ministries? We people should protest against this kind of thing but we just can't do anything.
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