Hyderabad: Barely 5 days in office and
cricketer-turned-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nallari Kiran
Kumar Reddy finds himself on a sticky wicket.
The `doosra` bowled by rebel Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan
Reddy today apparently caught Kiran off-guard, perhaps an
indication of political turmoil that he may face especially
with Jaganmohan followers ready to bowl more googlies and even
bouncers at him.
Congress sources indicated that at least 28 MLAs have
solidly pledged their support to Jaganmohan and offered to
resign while another 7 – 8 are also keen to follow
suit.
The Jaganmohan camp claims at least 4 members of
Lok Sabha, 36 MLAs and half-a-dozen members of Legislative
Council are now behind him.
"4 to 5 MLAs from Praja Rajyam Party will also
join hands with us soon," the rebel leader`s aides claimed.
For the record, however, Jaganmohan appealed to
Congress MLAs not to quit their posts "for me".
"Wherever you are, your love and affection are enough
for me. Please do not resign from your posts for me,"
Jaganmohan appealed in the open letter he addressed to
Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.
However, a Jaganmohan loyalist, who interestingly
camped in New Delhi over the last three days lobbying for a
cabinet berth, claims that the son of former chief minister YS
Rajasekhara Reddy is all set to split the party and dislodge
the Kiran Kumar Reddy government.
"Wait for two more days and see what happens," said
the first-time MLA.
The Chief Minister, who returned from New Delhi this
afternoon, discussed the fallout of Jagan`s resignation with
several former ministers and MLAs at the Lake View Guest
House.
Kiran Kumar was closeted in an "informal meeting" with
them after meeting the state Governor E S L Narasimhan for
about 15 minutes in the Raj Bhavan.
PTI
