Hyderabad, October 05: The resignation of Infrastructure Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy has been accepted by Governor ESL Narasimhan on Wednesday. Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, earlier in the day, addressed a letter to the Governor recommending that the resignation of the minister be accepted.
It may be recalled that the minister has severely attacked the Congress High Command and the Chief Minister while participating in the Sakala Janula Samme and despite being a responsible minister; Venkata Reddy staged a dharna at the RTA office at Khairatabad and was arrested by the police. At a time when the Chief Minister sought clearance of the Congress High Command and was about to sack him from the cabinet, Venkat Reddy directly met the Governor and submitted his resignation. Though he had also resigned from his MLA seat in the Assembly, the resignation was still pending with the Speaker.
The Congress High Command has also given permission for easing out Komatireddy as it was keen on sending a signal that it would not take remarks against the party and the Chief Minister kindly. The Chief Minister is totally empowered to choose his cabinet colleagues. He is free to appoint some one as a minister or sack.
Despite having discretionary powers, Kiran Kumar Reddy sought a clearance of the party High Command for Venkat Reddy’s removal. It is learnt that the Chief Minister has also sought clearance for removal of Textiles Minister Dr Shankar Rao, who has been day in and day out, giving public statements against the Chief Minister. Dr Shankar Rao also embarrassed the Congress party and the government by making corruption charges against his Cabinet colleagues Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy and Excise Minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana. Based on his charges, the CBI has initiated investigation against the two.
However, the Congress High Command is reported to have kept the issue of removal of Dr Shankar Rao on hold for the present, because he happens to be the son-in-law of Congress stalwart G Venkatswamy. It is learnt that MP and Venkatswamy’s son Vinod has urged the Congress High Command not to initiate action against his brother-in-law. On his part, Dr Shankar Rao has slowed down after news about his possible removal came out.
—Agencies