The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Reluctant TRS Minister resigns

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 14, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Others

Reluctant TRS Minister resigns

Special Correspondent

Only future will determine the course of Telangana: CM

HYDERABAD: A reluctant Transport Minister S. Santosh Reddy in Andhra Pradesh Cabinet on Wednesday submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and, unlike the other Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) Ministers, had no words of acrimony for him.

"You are doing a good job of developing the State," he said, while handing over his letter to Dr. Reddy in the presence of large number of followers and mediapersons.

He thanked the Chief Minister for giving him an opportunity to serve the Government, and observed that the slogan of separate Telangana would not have been raised had Dr. Reddy been the Chief Minister 15 years ago.

Mr. Santosh Reddy's resignation comes 10 days after five TRS Ministers had quit accusing the Chief Minister of not hearing their views in Cabinet meetings and being indifferent to the development of Telangana.

They had handed over their letters of resignation to the Governor.

Receiving the letter, Dr. Reddy said there were no two views that Telangana had received a raw deal in development in the TDP rule. "We will try to rectify things," he said, while adding "future alone will determine whether separate Telangana will be a reality or not."

The Transport Minister went to the Chief Minister with several MLAs and party functionaries in tow.

Talking to reporters later, Mr. Santosh Reddy said he had submitted his resignation a day ahead of the schedule to avoid any scope for rumours and sending wrong signals. Expressing regrets at not being able to continue in his role, he said only Statehood for Telangana would ensure its all-round development.

Dig at adversaries

Taking a dig at his political adversaries speculating about his future, Mr. Santosh Reddy said it was made out of lack of awareness.

He would wage an uncompromising struggle for separate Telangana. Asked why he had dragged the issue of resignation for ten days, he said he felt it would not be proper to quit when the RTC strike was on and the Chief Minister was away on foreign tour.

The Minister paid the last visit to his chambers in the Secretariat . He later drove to the TRS office at Banjara Hills.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Tamil Nadu

News Update

Stories in this Section