Kavuri quits post, not to contest on Congress ticket

Union Minister for Textiles Kavuri Sambasiva Rao on Thursday submitted resignation from the Union Cabinet in protest against the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.

Speaking to media persons after submitting his resignation to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, Kavuri said that the Congress Government not only failed to prevent bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, but it also did not issue the required ordinance on certain promises made to the people of Seemandhra.

Kavuri admitted that his decision to resign from the Union Cabinet was delayed. However, he said he tried in vain to oppose the Telangana formation which was done in the Parliament without having proper discussion and in violation of set norms. He said he continued on the post to ensure certain issue like creation of infrastructure for industrial development, merger of Anantapur and Kurnool districts with Telangana and merger of Bhadrachalam division with Seemandhra and Union Territory status for Hyderabad. However, these tasks too remain unaccomplished.

The former union minister made it clear that he will not contest the ensuing elections on Congress party. "I'm not going to contest on a Congress ticket," he said while adding that he had met BJP President Rajnath Singh although he is not in touch with him.