Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy continued his parleys with the central leadership on the course of action to be taken on the ‘tainted’ Ministers in the quid pro quo investment case against Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.
Mr. Reddy, who is camping in Delhi since Wednesday night, met AICC president Sonia Gandhi this afternoon and followed it up with further consultations with party general secretary Ghulam Nabi Azad. He put off his return to city by a day on the advice of Mr. Azad.
During his 40-minute meeting with Ms. Gandhi, he discussed party affairs and sought her advice on the fate of the ‘tainted’ Ministers.
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In his interaction with the AICC leaders, sources said, the Chief Minister reportedly defended the Ministers, particularly Sabitha Indra Reddy and Dharmana Prasada Rao. He is said to have pleaded with the high command that though CBI named them in their charge-sheet, they could be continued in the Cabinet till the court gave its ruling. The speculation in a section of the party here is that the high command may favour some demonstrative action, including shifting of some of them to insignificant portfolios.
Another section noted that the AICC could ask the Chief Minister to accept the resignation letters of all the five Ministers, who are accused of issuing controversial GOs during the Rajasekhara Reddy government.
At the same time, Mr. Reddy lodged a complaint against colleagues who were criticising him regularly.
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PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana, who was closeted with Mr. Azad till late in the night on Thursday along with Mr. Reddy, left for Visakhapatnam after the party leadership completed the exercise of revamping the PCC executive this afternoon.
Barring his meeting with Ms. Gandhi and Mr. Azad, the Chief Minister did not meet any other AICC leader.
More discussions
He is expected to hold another round of discussions with Ms. Gandhi on the issue relating to the Ministers.