Jeevan Reddy defends Kiran Kumar Reddy's continuation as CM

Former minister T Jeevan Reddy on Wednesday said that the Congress High Command would not change Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy holding him responsible for party's debacle in the recently held by-elections in the State.

Talking to media persons at Assembly premises, Jeevan Reddy said that the High Ccommand invited Kiran Kumar Reddy and Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana to New Delhi to discuss ways and means to strengthen party before the next by-elections to be held for 18 assembly segments and to take latest stock of situation in the Telangana after the by-elections. He expressed confidence that the High Command invited both the leaders primarily to resolve the Telangana issue soon.

Responding to leveling of corruption allegations by Congress leaders against former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, he asked as to why they have not raised objection against Telugu Desam president N Chandrababu Naidu, who was the architect for Emaar scam. “It is not good for the leaders to damage the image of YSR only to prove that Jagan Mohan Reddy was corrupt," he said.

Responding to rumours of him leaving the Congress party, Jeevan Reddy said that he would never join YSR Congress party or extend support to Jagan Mohan Reddy. “I will continue in the Congress party as a loyal worker till my last breath,” he said.

He said that the leaders who truly love YSR leadership and his schemes and programmes were still with the Congress party.