In a strategic move, Seemandhra MLAs’ Forum convener and Primary Education Minister S Sailajanath today refused to respond on the issue raked up after Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy stripped D Sridhar Babu of his Legislative Affairs portfolio and given it to him.
Talking to the media here on Wednesday, Sailajanath said he would not respond on it now. The issue came to the fore when Kiran replaced Sridhar Babu, a staunch Telangana leader, with his close aide and Samaikyandhra protagonist Sailajanath while the Assembly is going to resume from January 3. Stating that the State would not be divided and kept in tact, Sailajanath extended greetings to people on the occasion of New Year.
While Telangana Ministers complained to Governor ESL Narasimhan and party high command against the Chief Minister’s provocative act, a furious Sridhar Babu said he would not accept any new portfolio. As Kiran’s decision to remove Sridhar Babu compelled Telangana Ministers to complain to the party high command about the CM’s undemocratic move, Sailajanath is said to have taken a tactical decision whether or not to accept the Legislative Affairs portfolio. Since the ball was thrown into the high command’s court, though the CM has power to change his ministerial colleagues, Sailajanath is trying to keep away from the controversy, informed sources said. The Seemandhra ministers are extending undue support to Kiran saying that he can take any sort of decision related to changes in the cabinet. (NSS)
