Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Wednesday began fire-fighting operation to retain the party MLAs, whose names are in circulation as probable defectors.
On his return from Bengaluru, Mr. Reddy was closeted with at least half a dozen MLAs whose names figured prominently in the media. He held discussions with MLAs – D. Sudhir Reddy, K. Sridhar, Akula Rajender, Balu Naik, Bhikshmaiah Goud and Gottipati Ravi Kumar at the Camp office.
Sources said the Chief Minister counselled them against taking hasty decision. He is learnt to have advised them that some vested interests in the rival parties were deliberately leaking names to create confusion and put the MLAs under pressure.
MLAs’ assurance
The MLAs reportedly assured him that they did not have any plans to switch sides. They expressed anguish that TRS and the YSR Congress leaders were spreading rumours about their impending defection. It may be mentioned here that major political parties are in a state of confusion after names of several MLAs figured in the list of probable defectors.
In a related development, city Ministers – Danam Nagender and M. Mukesh Goud met here on Wednesday to discuss the strategy to retain the party MLAs, who were planning to quit Congress and join the YSR Congress.
The Ministers are likely to meet the City MLAs and appeal them to reconsider their decision.
