Andhra’s Kiran mulls floating new party

There is speculation that the 53-year-old former cricketer-turned-politician might float a political party to fight for the rights of Seemandhra.

Three state ministers and six expelled Congress MPs attended the strategy meeting. Kiran had revolted against the party’s decision to divide the state on the ground that it would prove disastrous for both Telangana and Seemandhra regions.

Though he has been dropping hints for several months about his plans to launch a party, the response from his Seemandhra colleagues has been somewhat lukewarm. His detractors within the Congress say that his resignation came too late in the day. Though the Congress Working Committee (CWC), the party’s highest policy making body, had taken the decision on formation of separate Telangana state in July last year, Kiran waited till the passage of the bill in the Lok Sabha to put in his papers.

Given the divisions within the Seemandhra Congress camp, there are doubts over his ability to muster enough support for the proposed new party. Moreover, the call for integrated Andhra Pradesh finds no resonance in the changed political context. A section of the ruling party leaders argue that he might eventually return to Congress fold in view of his family’s long-standing loyalty for the party.

With Kiran making it clear that he would not continue as caretaker chief minister, the state appears headed for President’s Rule. As simultaneous elections to the Assembly and Lok Sabha are scheduled in April/May, he does not have much time left to build a new political organisation.

The six MPs, including Lagadapati Rajagopal of “pepper spray” fame, Sabbam Hari, V Arun Kumar, Sai Pratap, Harsha Kumar and R Sambasiva Rao who were expelled from Congress for moving a no-confidence motion against the UPA government, attended the meeting. State ministers S Sailajanath, P Satyanarayana and Parthasarthi were also present at the meeting.

Governor ESL Narasimhan has since accepted Kiran’s resignation and asked him to continue till alternative arrangements are made. The UPA leadership is yet to take a decision on whether to name a successor or impose President’s rule in the state.

After obtaining President Pranab Mukherjee’s approval, the central government is likely to issue a gazette notification next week, formalizing creation of Telangana and the successor state of Andhra Pradesh.

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