Even as Kiran Kumar Reddy resigned as Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh blaming the high command of his own Congress party for dividing the State for political gains, the Telangana Bill, at the centre of much controversy, did not come up in the Rajya Sabha on Wednesday as the main Opposition party, the BJP, changed its tone on the issue.

Addressing a press conference in Hyderabad, Kiran Kumar Reddy said the move to divide the State was against the interests of Telangana and Seemandhra regions. He met Governor ESL Narasimhan after the conference and submitted his resignation.

“The entire process of sending the Telangana Bill to the State Legislative Assembly and later in Parliament bypassed most traditions.

“In fact, I am not sure how can a Bill can be taken up when the State Assembly rejects it and sends it back,” he said. “Normally, if there is division, people of both the regions should gain. But in this division of the State, people of both the regions will lose out. Therefore, I had taken up the issue with the Centre and wanted a package but that was not to be.”

He contended that the Telugu Desam Party, the YSR CP, the TRS, and the BJP, besides the Congress, were responsible for the bifurcation against the wishes of the Telugu people.

Kiran Kumar Reddy, who held the CM’s office for three years and three months, did not indicate his next course of action. He made it clear that he would not be the caretaker and requested the Governor to make alternative arrangements.

With the Telangana Bill stalled in the Rajya Sabha, the Government may move the Lok Sabha once again to ensure a broader consensus.

BJP spanner Though the BJP had reaffirmed its commitment to a separate Telangana State, the party has moved a number of amendments putting the Government in a spot.

However, it is the prerogative of Lok Sabha whether or not to accept the amendments. There are precedents of the Lok Sabha going ahead with the Bills despite objections from the Rajya Sabha.

Simultaneously, the Government held discussions with senior BJP leaders, including Venkaiah Naidu, who has been demanding a proper debate on the Bill, for a consensus. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh also reached out to leaders of both the Houses. “We are trying for a consensus. We hope that the Bill can be passed on Thursday,” said Minister of State of Parliamentary Affairs Rajeev Shukla.

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