'Jagan quit Congress because of Kiran'

Continuing his tirade against chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, rebel Congress leader Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy has said that Jagan Mohan Reddy left the Congress because of Kiran Reddy.

Addressing his supporters  on Monday during his maiden visit to Tirupati after quitting the Assembly, the ex-minister said the Congress will not get a single seat in the district if it goes to polls in 2014 under the leadership of Kiran Reddy.

The rebel leader said when Rosaiah was the chief minister, Kiran Reddy misled the party high command, submitting concocted reports on the Odarpu yatra of Jagan, claiming that he could stem the growing popularity of Jagan. But, the recent byelections in which the Congress party suffered a crushing defeat by the YSRC, indicated the capabilities of  Kiran Reddy, he said.

Hinting that he would not leave the party, Ramachandra Reddy said he would soon meet Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and also party president Sonia Gandhi to explain the ground realities vis-a-vis party position in the state and impress them on the need to change of leadership in the state.

He said though he tried to extend cooperation, the chief minister came in the way of developing his constituency. ‘’Even the bus stand sanctioned for Punganur was withheld’’ he said adding that there was no development in Chittoor district after Kiran Reddy became the chief minister.

Earlier Reddy arrived at Renigutna airport, from Hyderabad to a tumultuous welcome by his supporters.