Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy is set to launch a new political party on 12 March 2014 in Rajamundry, a city in coastal Andhra Pradesh. Reddy announced his decision at his residence in Hyderabad on 6 March, reported PTI
Reddy resigned from chief ministerial post, protesting Centre's decision to divide the united Andhra Pradesh to create a new state of Telangana.
His new party's announcement came hours after he filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging the Union government's decision to carve out Telangana from the United Andhra Pradesh. The new party's name, symbol, ideology and other details will be announced at the launch of the party, he added.
The main aim of the new party will be to uphold the "prestige and dignity" of Telugu-speaking people and understand their needs and aspirations.
Kiran Reddy was flanked by expelled Cong MPs-Sai Pratap, Pabbam Srihari, Harshakumar, Lagadapati Rajagopal, ex-minister Pitani Satyanarayana.
Though born and brought up in Hyderabad, his farther N. Amarnath Reddy was from Nagaripalle, near Kalikiri, Chittoor district in drought-hit Rayalaseema, the part of Seemandhra region. Amarnath was in Congress and served as a minister in P. V. Narasimha Rao's cabinet. He was also considered close to late Indira Gandhi.
Kiran Kumar, who stated that he was pained a lot by the state's bifurcation, recalled that his family has been in politics since 40 to 50 years. When scribes asked him whether he is going to fight to reunite the AP, he retorted saying that the two section of Germany were united by people of both sides by toppling down the Berlin wall. Whereas here in AP, there is no such a wall, he added.
He also explained that if the state was divided, both the proposed states-Telangana and Seemandhra will have to face hardships including the immediate problems such as power shortages and irrigation issues.
(Edited by Vanilla Sharma)
