Former A.P. CM Kiran Kr Reddy returns to Congress
NEW DELHI : Former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy on Friday formally rejoined the Congress after meeting party president Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi.
“I am very happy that I am coming back to the Congress family,” said Mr. Reddy, who had represented the party for four terms in the undivided Andhra Pradesh Assembly.“Whatever identity I have got, it is because of the Congress,” he said recalling his family’s association with the party.
Mr. Reddy was the last Chief Minister of the undivided Andhra Pradesh. He quit the Congress in February 2014, opposing the bifurcation. He then founded the Jai Samaikyandhra party.
Reddy had strongly opposed division of Andhra Pradesh and even defied his party high command during his tenure as the Chief Minister. Following the State bifurcation, he floated Jai Samaikhyandhra party ahead of 2014 general election but failed to even retain deposits.
Ever since he has been staying away from the active politics, except for attending private functions of friends, Kiran Kumar Reddy was out of public glare.
“Unless the Congress comes back to Delhi, justice will not be done to the Telugu people,” Mr. Reddy said. He accused the Union government, the State government and the Opposition of “failing miserably” in implementing the AP State reorganisation Act.
Welcoming Mr. Reddy, former Kerala Chief Minister and AICC person in charge of Andhra Pradesh Oommen Chandy expressed optimism that other leaders who left the party would also return to the party fold.(With Agency Inputs ).
