Differences between Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy and Deputy Chief Minister C. Damodar Rajanarsimha have come to the fore again indicating that their cold war is continuing.
In the latest skirmish, Mr. Kiran Reddy has decided to skip Andole, the Assembly constituency represented by his deputy, during Indiramma Baata, mass contact programme in Medak district on October 29, 30 and 31. The programme was reportedly finalised without consulting Mr. Rajanarsimha.
Mr. Reddy’ visit was originally scheduled for October 9, 10 and 11 but was deferred on the Deputy Chief Minister’s request as he was then going to England. According, the programme was scrapped and Mr. Reddy undertook the Indiramma Baata in Prakasam district during the three days.
The Deputy Chief Minister is sore that when the original schedule was scrapped on his request, he ought to have been consulted when the fresh programme was drawn up since the Chief Minister knew about his return from London. It is understood that district in-charge Minister D. K. Aruna recently held a meeting with the Congress MLAs and Ministers from Medak where the dates were finalised.
Party leaders point out that the on going rift between the two leaders is not new.
Time and again Mr. Rajanarsimha is said to have raised his voice against the ‘unilateral decisions’ taken by the Chief Minister. He is understood to have expressed his ire that the names for the various corporation posts had been finalised without consulting him.
Task Force teams undertaking inspections in engineering colleges in the State to verify the claims by their managements about availability of better infrastructure/ faculty turned out to be another issue that kept the differences simmering. Following representations made to him by the managements of these colleges, the Chief Minister had issued instructions for stopping of these inspections while the Deputy CM, in contrast, wanted them to continue unhindered.
To skip Siddipet
Medak Staff Reporter adds: The Chief Minister is also likely to skip Siddipet constituency represented by TRS legislator T. Harish Rao. The programme was not fixed for Siddipet Assembly constituency as it continued to be hotbed of the separate Telangana movement and may intensify passions among the agitators. The agitators had already warned that they would obstruct the visits by the Chief Minister, TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu and YSRC leader Sharimla.
