Describing the challenge to Kadapa leader YS Jaganmohan Reddy to bring down the government as evidence of frustration, former Minister Peddireddy Ramchandra Reddy lashed out at Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy for asking his party MLAs to resign.
Mr Ramchandra Reddy said that Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy should have initiated disciplinary action against the MLAs if he was so upset with them for taking part in former Kadapa MP YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s protest rallies.
The former minister described Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy’s statement in New Delhi in which he had challenged Mr Jaganmohan Reddy to bring down the government as ‘irresponsible’ and ‘unbecoming of a person who heads the government in Andhra Pradesh.’ He also said that this was evidence enough that Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy was unable to control his own MLAs and was becoming increasingly frustrated.
Mr Ramchandra Reddy told media persons that Pradesh Congress Committee president D Srinivas and Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy should have controlled the MLAs through disciplinary action instead of asking them to resign.
The former minister further added that he was ready to contest against Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy in his own constituency if the Chief Minister resigned and sought the people’s mandate again.
He also criticized the Chief Minister for allegedly writing a letter to Chief Whip S Sailajanath, asking him to warn Legislators that action would be taken against them if they did not tour their constituencies frequently and against those who shirk away from the Racha Banda programme which is scheduled to be launched from Monday.
Pointing out to the Chief Minister, Mr Ramchandra Reddy said that Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy was the most infrequent visitor to his own constituency. Going by the standards set, action should be taken Mr Kiran Kumar Reddy himself, the former minister said.
He said that he had made it a point to be available to the people of his constituency, except for three days.
Mr Ramchandra Reddy further reminded that former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy had introduced Racha Banda with the goal to address local problems though local elected members.