Advertisement

Do not misunderstand us, we are bowing to people's wishes: Jana Reddy

Updated at:
Do not misunderstand us, we are bowing to people's wishes: Jana Reddy
Do not misunderstand us, we are bowing to people's wishes: Jana Reddy

Appealing to the High Command not to misunderstand the reason behind the resignations, Panchayat Raj Minister K Jana Reddy on Monday said that as many as 44 Legislators representing the Congress party, including 11 Ministers, have submitted their resignations to Deputy Speaker Mallu Batti Vikramarka for the cause of Telangana statehood.

Addressing a media conference at Assembly Media Point, Mr Jana Reddy stated that 25 Congress MLAs personally handed over their resignations to Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka while some have faxed in their papers.

Besides this, out of the 19 MLCs, 12 have submitted their resignations to Chairman of the Legislative Council A Chakrapani, Mr Jana Reddy said.

Advertisement

Out of 119 MLAs from Telangana, 89 have submitted their resignations so far. This includes Congress, TDP and PRP Legislators. The TRS has 11 MLAs, the BJP 2, CPI 4, AIMIM 7 and CPM 1.

The Minister added that among his Cabinet colleagues who are yet to resign are Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, Minister for Labour Danam Nagender, Housing Minister Mukesh Goud, Handlooms and Textile Minister P Shankar Rao. Mr Jana Reddy emphasised that the Ministers have not resigned from the Cabinet posts but have only submitted their resignations from their elected posts.

If their resignations are indeed accepted, the Ministers would be able to continue in the Cabinet for another six months.

Besides, MLAs Sudhir Reddy, Jayaprakash Reddy, M Shasidhar Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy and Deputy Speaker Mallu Batti Vikramarka are yet to put in their papers, the Minister revealed.

He added that the Ministers would chalk out their future course of action only after meeting Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and possibly Governor E S L Narasimhan.

Mr Jana Reddy stated that they resigned to their posts only to fulfil the aspirations of the Telangana people. “We are not against the High Command or the party,” he said emphatically.

“We still support Congress president Sonia Gandhi’s leadership and will continue to make efforts for strengthening the party,” the Minister said.

He pleaded to the High Command not to misunderstand their decision, saying that the move was not aimed at creating a Constitutional crisis but only in deference of the people’s wishes.

Mr Jana Reddy expressed confidence that Telangana state would be carved out from Andhra Pradesh soon, appealing to the High Command to announce a favourable decision and stand by the December 9, 2009 statement of Union Home Minister P Chidambaram.