Has Kiran Reddy dropped plans to launch new party?

Hyderabad: Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, who will be listed in history as the last Chief Minister of an “undivided” Andhra Pradesh, is likely to drop his plans to float a new political party. “Since there has been no official word about the possible launch of the new party, there will not be any official announcement about shelving his plans,” an expelled Congress MP in Kiran’s camp said here today.

It was widely expected that Reddy, along with six MPs expelled from the Congress, would announce the launch of a new political party in Seemandhra on a “united” Andhra Pradesh platform on March 2, but the idea has now been shelved.

Kiran quit as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister and MLA on February 19, besides simultaneously leaving the Congress, protesting against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Though it was never publicly stated, Reddy had plans to float a new regional party by positioning himself as a “champion of united Andhra Pradesh”. At least eight ministers and over a dozen MLAs had joined him when Reddy walked out of Congress and handed over his resignation to the state Governor, but now only two ministers are ready to sail with him.

Six MPs, namely Undavalli Arun Kumar, Sabbam Hari, Lagadapati Rajagopal, Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, A Sai Pratap and G Harsha Kumar, are said to be with Reddy since they have no other political option. However, majority of MLAs and ministers, who were expected to join hands with Reddy, have started joining the Telugu Desam Party, while some others have proclaimed their loyalty to the Congress.

Kiran held three rounds of meetings with these MPs and MLAs to chalk out his course of action and also conferred with student leaders from Seemandhra for their views.

PTI