‘Change of CM will not affect government’

Congress senior leader and Rajya Sabha member V Hanumantha Rao has said that the government in the state will not collapse even if the Congress high command decides to replace N Kiran Kumar Reddy as the chief minister.

Answering queries on such a possibility in case the AICC leadership opts for a change of guard in the state, Rao said, “The replacement of K Rosaiah did not destabilise the then government and if the Congress high command decides to replace Kiran Reddy, it would not result in the fall of government. High command is supreme. Nobody has the guts to challenge its decision.”

Talking to reporters at his residence here on Thursday, the Rajya Sabha member said that nobody knew the thinking of the high command on the change of guard in the state.

“High command has full rights to change the chief minister or to continue him in that post. PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana made it clear yesterday (Wednesday). If the party leadership takes any decision in this regard nobody will oppose it,” said Rao.

‘Kiran should be cautious of turncoats’

Rao advised the chief minister to be cautious of the Congress leaders who are likely to ditch the Congress and join the YSRCP. “Some legislators, who were seen in the chief minister’s camp office and got Kiran Reddy’s nod for several developmental works in their constituencies are now boarding Jagan’s ship. Henceforth he should give priority only to party loyalists while sanctioning such works,” said Rao.

‘Sharmila wants to run the show’

According to Hanumantha Rao, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy’s sister Sharmila had nurtured ambitions to be in the saddle of the YSRCP.

“As Jagan is cooling his heels in the prison, his sister Sharmila, who is undertaking a padayatra, might be desiring to take over the reins. It seems her husband Anil Kumar and other close aides are encouraging her to sit on the throne,” said Rao.

‘Telangana state the only solution’

Rao made it clear that according statehood to Telangana was the only solution to resolve the issue. Any sort of political or financial packages would not work to fulfil the long-cherished dream of the Telangana people. He mourned the untimely death of another youngster, D Santhosh, who took his life for the sake of Telangana state.

‘Naidu should hold his tongue’

He asked TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu to maintain certain dignity and decorum in his language while criticising Congress. “Naidu, who ruled the state for nine years, is now stooping to the level of using unparliamentary language and went to the extent of comparing the Congressmen with “wild boars”, he alleged.