The Hindu : Front Page : Keshava Rao quits as PCC president

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Tuesday, Sep 11, 2007
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Keshava Rao quits as PCC president

PHOTO : NAGARA GOPAL

PCC president K. Keshava Rao at a press conference in Hyderabad on Monday.

HYDERABAD: Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee president K. Keshava Rao on Monday announced his decision to quit from his post to facilitate an “absolutely impartial” inquiry into the shooting of real estate dealer Prasanth Reddy for which his son has been taken into custody.

Dr. Rao who conveyed his intention to the Congress high command on Monday announced at a press conference that he had taken the decision to avoid scope for criticism that his continuance as PCC president would “cast an undue influence” on the investigating authorities.

The resignation of Dr. Rao comes barely six weeks before the completion of his three-year term towards the end of October. Earlier in the day, Dr. Rao informed Chief Minister’s political advisor K.V.P. Ramachandra Rao about his decision to quit. The matter was then taken to the notice of AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh who reportedly said it was left to Dr. Rao to decide whether to continue in the post or quit.

The APCC chief said that his decision to resign was borne out of an “inner call” to uphold value-based politics. He condemned reports in a section of the media that his continuance in the post would dilute the probe. He wondered how a PCC president could dilute a police inquiry at a time when Ministers were being arrested for their involvement in cases. Replying to queries, he said he did not convey his decision to Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy as “he will anyway ask me not to quit”.

He said Prasanth Reddy was a close friend and business partner of his son Venkat Rao who was staying separately from him since more than four years. Even senior leaders of the party were against his stepping down over a “purely private” issue involving his son who was not staying with him.

Flies to Delhi

After speaking to the press, the PCC president flew to New Delhi in the evening to personally hand over his resignation to AICC president Sonia Gandhi.

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