Kotla turns down offer for CM’s post

‘I cannot go against my conscience for the sake of political power’

Union Minister of State for Railways, Kotla Jayasuryaprakasa Reddy, has reportedly turned down the offer of the Chief Minister’s post in the event of Mr. Kiran Kumar Reddy stepping down from office. Mr. Reddy told The Hindu that he could not go against his conscience for the sake of political power, saying he was the first person to resign from the Cabinet for the sake of Samaikyandhra.

“I cannot go to my electorate as a person who presided over the devolution of Andhra Pradesh,” he said. However, his close confidantes said he was for Rayala Telangana if Kurnool and Anantapur were included in Telangana. When the matter was raised before the Central leaders, they reportedly expressed helplessness, saying that it was too late to incorporate such changes.

Mr. Reddy is said to have told followers that one should be prepared to remain idle for a long period without any assignment in the event of the division of the State.

source: The Hindu