Kiran Kumar resigns

Jairam Ramesh says Prez Rule will be imposed

• He also quits party, resigns as MLA
• The 16th Chief Minister of AP is also its last
• A grateful Kiran refrains from attacking Cong top brass
• He is also evasive on the launch of new party
• Shinde says Kiran had no option; PC avers he should have quit ‘much sooner’

Thus he spake

• It is the future of people, not mine, which is at stake
• Telugu people will never forget what Cong has done
• Bifurcation will cause a plethora of problems
• It is not at all good for country, mark my words
• All political parties colluded to divide the State

Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy finally quit his post and also resigned from the membership of the State Assembly as well as the Congress party in protest against the passage of the Telangana Bill in the Lok Sabha.

Addressing the media minutes before submitting his resignation, he warned that the move to divide the State did not portend well for the country and the party. He said the Congress had always been saved by Andhra Pradesh. “I don't think Telugu people will ever forget this. There will be problem for the country in the future, mark my words," he cautioned.

In the outgoing Lok Sabha, the Andhra Pradesh had contributed the largest contingent of MPs (33) to the Congress' kitty of 206 seats. But, the party faces a rout in the 25 constituencies falling in the Seemandhra region, though it pins hopes on revival in its fortunes in Telangana, which sends 17 members to the LS.

Lashing out at the Congress party, he said that in collusion with the BJP it had ensured the passage of the T Bill in the Lok Sabha, setting aside all democratic conventions and practices. He strongly condemned the ‘shady deal’ between the two major parties.

For the last four months, Kiran had been exuding confidence that he would stall the bifurcation of the State and till last week he was claiming that the last ball was yet to be bowled.

Kiran quits

Kiran had all along maintained that the State's unity and the future of Telugu people was paramount to him and that linking the State's bifurcation with political gains was wrong.

When asked about his future plans and if he would launch a new party, Kiran evaded a clear reply. He only said, "It is not my future or political career that is at stake. The interests of the Telugus is at stake and I have decided to quit in protest against the unilateral manner in which the Centre is bifurcating the State."He said farmers, students and government employees would suffer immensely because of the division, and problems would crop up between the two regions over drinking water, electricity, employment and education opportunities. Kiran said Andhra Pradesh was formed after a lot of struggle and sacrifices of many people, and it achieved progress on all fronts. "Is it proper to divide the State after 58 years?” he asked. He slammed the Congress for violating all constitutional provisions and for pushing through the Bill in Parliament in an "undemocratic" manner.

Kiran also blamed all political parties for the division. "TDP, YSR Congress, TRS, BJP, Congress, all parties divided the Telugu people for votes and seats," he rued.On PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana's claim that had Kiran Reddy quit soon after CWC decision to bifurcate the State, Kiran replied that if he had done so, the T State would have been formed four months back. He said that soon after CWC decision, he wanted to resign, but Sonia Gandhi asked him not to resign, saying that the T decision was a tough one but there was no other option. He, however, thanked the Congress for making him the Chief Minister, a post he held for over three years. He said his family served the Congress since 1962 and fought 12 elections on Congress symbol. While Kiran left Raj Bhavan all alone, Minister S Sailajanath left his official vehicle behind and went home in an auto rickshaw.Interestingly, Governor ESL Narsimhan announced the acceptance of the resignation even before Kiran reached the camp office, which is about 2 km away from the Raj Bhavan. In Delhi, Union Minister Jairam Ramesh reacted immediately, saying that the Centre would go in for Presidents rule.

The Union Home Minister Sushil Kumar Shinde remarked that Kiran had no other option. Union Finance Minister P Chidambaram told NDTV that Kiran should have been asked to go ‘much sooner.’ According to sources, the Governor will be sending a report to the Centre on Wednesday evening and the President’s Rule may be imposed either on Thursday or Friday.