Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister
N Kiran Kumar Reddy on Tuesday said that some of the Congress rebel MLAs
owing allegiance to YSR Congress party were "in touch" with
him even as he maintained that their disqualification issue
was under the Assembly Speaker`s purview.
"Yes," was his immediate response, when reporters
asked the Chief Minister about claims that some of the rebel
MLAs, currently facing disqualification proceedings for voting
against the government, were in touch with him, seeking to get
back into the Congress party.
Kiran, however, was quick to add in a lighter vein
that MLAs from Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), CPI and CPM
were also in touch with him.
But he did not give any specific reply to questions
about some of the rebel MLAs` desire to return to their parent
party.
"The disqualification issue is under the Assembly
Speaker`s purview. As per rules we complained against 16 MLAs
within 15 days of the voting on the no-confidence motion (on
December 5 last). The issue is pending," he added.
Questioned about reports that the Congress was seeking
to get the disqualification issue delayed in a bid to avoid
by-elections in one go, the Chief Minister noted that nobody
could influence the Speaker`s decision.
"Conducting the elections is the Election Commission`s
job...not the Chief Minister`s. You should not think
everything is in my hands since I am the Chief Minister,"
Kiran quipped.
The Chief Minister had an informal chat with news
reporters after the Assembly was adjourned for the day today.
On the controversy related to the liquor syndicates in
the state, in which, names of some ministers were involved,
the Chief Minister said, the government was ready to make a
statement on this in the Assembly.
"I will talk on this issue only in the House," he
added.
PTI
