The Hindu Business Line : 5 TRS Ministers quit in AP

THE Rajasekhara Reddy-led Congress (I) coalition Government in Andhra Pradesh has received a setback with five of the six TRS (Telangana Rashtra Samithi) Ministers in the Cabinet submitting their resignations to the Governor, Mr Sushilkumar Shinde, here on Monday.

The resignations by the TRS (the coalition partner) Ministers were in protest against the treatment meted out to them at the hands of the Congress, particularly the Chief Minister, Dr Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

The immediate cause, however, was the killing of Mr Riyaz, a top leader of CPI (ML-Janashakti), in an alleged fake encounter in Karimnagar district last week.

The resignations, however, will not threaten the stability of the Government as the Congress has enough strength in the Assembly.

The Naxalites of both the CPI (Maoist) and Janashakti had asked the TRS to withdraw from the Government as they "failed in securing a separate Statehood for Telangana".

Asked for his comments, Dr Rajasekhara Reddy, before leaving on an eight-day tour of Israel, Egypt and Dubai on Monday, said he would respond to the resignation decision at an appropriate time.

Mr S. Santosh Reddy, Minister for Transport and a TRS leader, however, refused to obey the party diktat, saying that it was Mr K. Chandrasekhara Rao, TRS President, who should quit his Union Cabinet post first.

Interestingly, Mr Reddy skipped a crucial press conference called to brief on the RTC strike. Mr Konathala Ramakrishna, Minister for Commercial Taxes, briefed the media instead.

"Mr Santosh Reddy has got an important private function to attend," Mr Ramakrishna said. Mr N. Narasimha Reddy, Union Minister for Rural Development, who is in Detroit (US) to attend Telugu Association of North America annual meeting, reportedly faxed his resignation.

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5 TRS Ministers quit in AP