Is Nallari Kiran Kumar Reddy, the last Chief Minister of undivided Andhra Pradesh, coming back to the Congress fold?
According to sources in the Congress, Mr. Reddy had a meeting with AICC president Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on Monday. He is believed to have met AICC vice-president Rahul Gandhi about two months ago.
The meetings have triggered speculation about Mr. Reddy returning the party which gave him the opportunity to become Assembly Speaker first and then Chief Minister. Yet Mr. Reddy launched the Jai Samaikyandhra Party (JSP) in protest against the Congress government’s decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh.
Mr. Reddy resigned on March 7, 2014, after the passage of the Andhra Pradesh Re-organisation Bill, and announced that he would launch a political party. The JSP was formally launched at a public meeting in Rajamahendravaram on March 12, 2014.
After the thumping victory of the Bharatiya Janata Party in the general election, Mr. Reddy reportedly evinced interest in joining the national party. However, this did not materialise.
A section of Mr. Reddy’s followers, including his brother, was keen that he join the Telugu Desam Party, but after the meeting with Mr. Rahul Gandhi, the differences of opinions among his followers died down.
