Speculation that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy may tender his resignation over the Telangana statehood issue, which had been muted so far, is fast gaining currency in the troubled state. Political circles are abuzz with rumors that he has an ace up his sleeve, which he will show when the Telangana resolution or Bill comes up before the State Assembly.

Kiran Reddy’s frequent missives against the UPA government in general and the Congress leadership in particular, questioning the wisdom behind carving out a Telangana state without going into some major issues like river water and revenue sharing, government employees’ jobs, education and medical health, have only lent credence to the belief that he is all set to resign and launch a new party on a united Andhra platform.

The chief minister’s latest salvo against the Center, wherein he said he would do everything to stop the ‘bifurcation cyclone’ threatening to ravage the state, would certainly not have gone down well with the party high command. But, it does clearly indicate the direction in which Kiran Reddy is moving.

Sources close to the chief minister claim that he could be making his move sooner than later by creating a Constitutional crisis in the state when a resolution on creation of Telangana state comes up before the State Assembly. It may turn out to be a well-planned dramatic exit timed for maximum effect, with Kiran Reddy driving straight to Raj Bhavan to tender his resignation after completing his speech on the Telangana resolution on the floors of the House. And this could happen in the last week of November when the resolution or Bill is expected to be sent to the State Assembly.

The chief minister is aware that the high voltage drama may not necessarily result in the reversal of the decision to divide the state, but it can lead to delays, and this will work to his advantage in setting up the stage for his entry into politics in a new avatar.

Kiran Reddy has been trying to position himself as the champion of the united Andhra cause as is evident from the several instances when he has taken serious and damaging pot-shots against his party leadership. The chief minister’s comparison of the bifurcation decision to Cyclone Phailin in Srikakulam district a couple of days ago, and his assertion that he would do everything to stop the ‘bifurcation cyclone’ could be the game changer.



During the meeting, Kiran Reddy also sought the backing of the people of Seemandhra, as coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema are referred to, to stop the division of the state. With this single statement, he seems to have laid the foundation to build up his future moves, which may come in the form of ‘Rachabanda,’ a mass contact road show which he intends to re-launch soon.

With the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) led by an ambivalent N Chandrababu Naidu all set to lose its main opposition tag, Kiran Reddy has YSR Congress led by a charismatic Y S Jaganmohan Reddy to contend with. Jagan, at the moment, is the clear leader in the race for the Andhra crown, but if Kiran Reddy does manage to gain public sympathy by projecting himself as the ‘wronged’ chief minister and comes out in a dramatic manner, he could well be capable of throwing a spanner in Jagan’s wheels.

The moot question, however, is whether Kiran Reddy, would be willing to part ways with the Congress since he hails from a family which has traditionally sailed with the ruling party. Only time will tell.