Intense speculation and suspense continued in the political circles, more so in the ruling Congress party, on Sunday also, on what is going to happen after the Chief Minister and the PCC chief goes to New Delhi for another round of consultations with the High Command on August 27.
Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and PCC Chief Botcha Satyanarayana maintaining total silence on their return from Delhi on Saturday, on the talks they had with the party high command in the last two days, is the cause for the suspense and speculation. When the two leaders left for Delhi three days back, there was wide range of speculation on the possibility of the High Command shifting the PCC chief, both the Chief Minister and the PCC chief, and on the choice for their successors, and on the fate of Dharmana Prasada Rao, who has submitted his resignation for Minister post following inclusion of his name in the charge-sheet filed by the CBI in the Vanpic lands issue.
It may be recalled that some of the senior leaders of the party had called on Sonia Gandhi, ahead of the Chief Minister’s visit to Delhi, and complained about the functioning of Kiran Kumar Reddy and pleaded for his removal from the ‘gaddi’, while some of the supporters of the Chief Minister were reported to have pleaded for removal of Botcha from PCC leadership, in view of the differences between the two –Kiran and Botcha. But, senior leaders point out that the High Command had already given clear indications that there was no question of changing the Chief Minister and he would complete the term. Many in the ruling party are of the view that changing the Chief Minister now would surely send wrong signals to the people, apart from giving scope for the Opposition to criticize the party and its leadership, and making it an election issue.
It is reported that on Dharmana’s issue, the High Command has given a free hand to the Chief Minister to decide for himself whether to accept the resignation or not. The fate of other four Ministers—Sabita Indra Reddy, Geetha Reddy, Ponnala Lakshmaiah and Kanna Lakshminarayana—who have also received notices from the Supreme Court, was also linked to that of Dharmana issue.
The Chief Minister was unable to decide on Dharmana’s resignation, though the latter had submitted it ten days back, in view of the repercussions it might have on the Congress party and the earlier Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy regime.
Senior Ministers K Jana Reddy and Dr D L Ravindra Reddy having lengthy discussions with the Union Minister S Jaipal Reddy on Saturday, also added fuel to the speculation on the change of guard and other issues.
Political circles, however, feel that some clear decisions might emerge when the Chief Minister and PCC chief hold discussions with the High Command leaders on August 27, on many matters, including the contentious Telangana State issue, which is pending for a long time. (NSS)