New Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy, who is the capital in connection with the Cabinet formation, struck a conciliatory note on rebel MP Jaganmohan Reddy by seeking his cooperation in running his government. Earlier in the day, Mr Kumar called on Congress president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. He had also met political secretary to the Congress president Ahmed Patel.
Though he described his meeting with the host of Congress leaders, including the party high command, as a “courtesy call”, sources disclosed that he also deliberated on the Cabinet formation and Jaganmohan issues.
Speaking to the media on the rebel MP, he said: “Jagan is a Congress MP. We seek the cooperation of all Congress MPs for the smooth running of the administration. He is the son of YSR who served the party for 30 years. And I want to take everyone along with me.”
When specifically asked if any action would be would be initiated against Jagan, Mr Kumar shot back saying, “The chief minister does not take action. It is for the high command to decide.”
Evading a direct reply to a query on whether his stamp could be seen in the new Cabinet, the chief minister said, “You will know when it is formed.”
On the issue of Cabinet formation, Mr Kumar said, “The exercise of forming the Cabinet is on. Hopefully, it will be over by tomorrow.”
Earlier, he was closeted in a meeting with Mr Ahmed Patel for more than an hour-and-a-half. When asked about the deputy chief ministership, Mr Reddy declared, “The deputy chief minister will be 100 per cent from Telangana,” making light of the Joint Action Committee on Telangana’s declaration that no purpose would be served by appointing a deputy chief minister from Telangana.