The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : YSR leaves for Delhi

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 13, 2006

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

YSR leaves for Delhi

Special Correspondent

May consult Sonia on Cabinet expansion

HYDERABAD : Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy left here for New Delhi on Wednesday on a three-day visit amidst speculation that he would be consulting the party high command on the proposed expansion of the Cabinet.

Dr. Reddy is slated to meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and other senior leaders.

While Dr. Reddy declined to state the agenda of his Delhi visit when reporters approached him, he is understood to be exploring various options before taking up the expansion in view of the decision to revive the Legislative Council.

He is likely to seek the advice of the Congress president whether the expansion process could be taken up immediately or put on hold till the Council was revived.

Dr. Reddy, sources said, would request the Prime Minister to announce a special package for taking up relief measures to mitigate the problems of farmers.

The Centre had recently announced a special rehabilitation package for 31 districts across the country, including Andhra Pradesh.

Irrigation projects

He will also meet the Union Agriculture Minister Sharad Pawar to seek financial assistance for completing the pending irrigation projects in the drought-affected districts in the State. Release of 1.75 lakh tonnes of maize for poultry farmers, setting up of a regulator for gas and coal pricing, moratorium on repayment and waiver of interest on crop loans obtained by farmers are among the other issues Dr. Reddy is likely to take up with the Centre.

The Chief Minister will participate in a breakfast meeting with entrepreneurs on Thursday and request the Centre to announce a package of incentives to Fab units.

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

Andhra Pradesh