CM undecided about Dharmana's resignation

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy today remained evasive on the fate of Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, who submitted his resignation from the Cabinet on August 14.

Dharmana's resignation is still with me, Kiran remarked when reporters quizzed him about the Minister. Rao submitted his resignation to the Chief Minister a day after CBI named him as an accused in the disproportionate assets case related to Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. He is charged with indiscriminately allotting thousands of acres of land for Vanpic (port) project as Revenue Minister in the previous Y S R Reddy Government. A group of Ministers met the CM yesterday and apparently exerted pressure on him to not to accept Rao's resignation. Kiran is expected to meet top Congress leaders in New Delhi to discuss the Minister's resignation apart from a host of other issues. When asked about the resignation at a press conference here this evening, the Chief Minister said His resignation is still with me. I will inform you whenever I accept it.

On the Ministers' pressure on him to not to accept the resignation, Kiran remarked, Nobody can exert pressure on me. How do you know what transpired between me and my ministers? He declined to answer any questions on the issue.

PTI