Hyderabad: Y S Vivekananda Reddy, who is
likely to contest an Assembly by-poll, today resigned as
Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister following end of his term
as MLC but may continue in the Kiran Kumar Reddy cabinet.
Vivekananda, brother of late Chief Minister Y S
Rajasekhara Reddy, said he submitted his resignation as his
term as a member of the Legislative Council ended yesterday.
"There may be a Constitutional provision for continuing
in office (for six months without being a legislator). But I
quit as my term as MLC ended yesterday. Moreover, why
ministership for someone who will be facing elections," he
told reporters.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said, "He
(Vivekananda) has submitted resignation as his term as MLC
ended yesterday. I have asked him to continue."
Vivekananda is most likely to contest the May 8 by-poll
for Pulivendula Assembly constituency in Kadapa district.
The by-polls to Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly
constituency have been necessitated following resignations of
Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and his mother Vijayalakshmi as MP and
MLA respectively.
Vivekananda had in the past represented Pulivendula as
MLA and Kadapa as MP. He did not contest the 2009 Lok Sabha
election reportedly to make way for his nephew Jagan.
Even after Jagan quit Congress following differences with
the party high command over his `Odarpu (consolation) Yatra`,
Vivekananda chose to remain in the party.
PTI
