Hyderabad, January 22 (INN): Former Minister Gade Venkat Reddy on Saturday said that Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy’s present Council of Ministers violates the conditions laid under the Gentlemen’s Agreement.
Talking to reporters at the Congress Legislature Party office, Venkat Reddy said as per the Gentlemen’s Agreement the State Cabinet should have at least 40 per cent ministers from the Telangana region. While two ministers from the region – Jupally Krishna Rao and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy have already resigned, another minister Dr P Shankar Rao has been dropped from the cabinet. Therefore, the Chief Minister must induct at least four ministers from the Telangana region to honour the Gentlemen’s Agreement.
Known for being a strong opponent of Telangana, the Bapatla MLA said that the Chief Minister should ensure that regional balance is maintained in his council of ministers. Such imbalances would lead to allegations of favouritism and would spark regional feelings, he said.
Venkat Reddy also denied media reports which quoted him as saying that the Reddy’s representation in the State Cabinet was deliberately being reduced by PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana. He said he never made any casteists remarks with regard to cabinet expansion.
The former minister also advised the Congress leaders not to under-estimate YSR Congress party president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. He said only people would decided whether or not Jagan lacks leadership qualities. “No one should be under-estimated in politics,” he advised. (INN)