The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Sleepless nights in store for YSR

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Friday, Apr 27, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Sleepless nights in store for YSR

Ravi Reddy

Denial of ministerial berths leads to discontent in Congress; PJR alleges injustice to Telangana

HYDERABAD: There appears to be no respite for Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy even after the much-awaited Cabinet expansion as senior leaders stepped up their tirade on being denied ministerial berths.

That the nomination for the posts of chairmen of Regional Development Boards, the Deputy Chairman of the Legislative Council and Deputy Speaker of the Assembly drew flak from the nominees themselves is a clear sign that they were sulking over not finding a place in the Cabinet.

Springs a surprise

Mohammed Jani, who has been named for the post of Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council, sprang a surprise by stating that he was not fit to hold the post as it did not suit his attitude. Similarly, Vepanjeri MLA G. Kutuhalamma reportedly claimed that the post of Deputy Speaker was being thrust upon her when she was fit to be a Minister. The reactions of V. Purushotham Reddy (Telangana) and P. Sambasiva Raju (N. Coastal Andhra) on their appointment as chairman of regional development was none too encouraging.

District level Congress leaders in some districts have put in their papers after their leaders were denied accommodation in the Cabinet. Party leaders in Shadnagar, Nirmal, Prodattur and Manthani constituencies resigned from their posts.

Heads tonsured

Reports of protests, rasta roko and burning of effigies have been reported from different parts of the State. Followers of Nirmal MLA A. Indrakaran Reddy staged a rasta roko while party cadres had their heads tonsured in Manthani after Government Whip D. Sridhar Babu missed the bus.

Senior Congress leader and Khairatabad MLA P. Janadhan Reddy launched a broadside against Dr. Reddy by alleging that injustice had been done to Telangana region by not creating the post of Deputy Chief Minister's post. He asserted that he would continue to raise his voice on public issues.

Shadnagar MLA P. Shanker Rao said he was the most deserving senior leader from Telangana who should have been taken into the Cabinet. Citing kinship with leaders as a reason for denial of a berth to him was ridiculous, he said, adding that relatives of several Ministers were enjoying multiple positions.

Party MP V. Hanumantha Rao objected to the creation of a separate regional board for North Coastal Andhra.

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