Is itthe end of the road for roads and buildings minister Dharmana Prasada Rao?Efforts by his cabinet colleagues to save him have not cut any ice with theCongress high command.
Atthe end of chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy's twoday visit to Delhi,it has become clear that Dharmana will be dropped.
Reddyis expected to forward the minister's resignation to governor ESL Narasimhanfor acceptance on Saturday or Sunday.
Thisapart, the high command is understood to have given Kiran Reddy the freedom totake appropriate action against four other ministers who have been issued noticesby the Supreme Court.
Thoughthe high command is not disinclined to act against them, it wants to takerecourse to action as and when an opportunity presents itself.
Thechief minister spent about one hour with party president Sonia Gandhi at her residencein Delhi Friday afternoon alongwith her political secretary Ahmed Patel, AICC general secretary Ghulam NabiAzad and AICC emissary to AP Vayalar Ravi.
"Thechief minister is quite happy. He has been given a free hand," an aidesaid as Kiran Kumar was boarding the flight to HyderabadFriday evening.
KiranReddy returned to Hyderabad,feeling honoured that the party chief had spent close to one hour with him andadvised him as to what he should do.
Interestingly,PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana has not been given an audience though he hasbeen in Delhi for the last few dayswhile even leaders like former minister P Shankar Rao got a chance to speak toher.
Accordingto sources, the high command is keen that the party has a clean image.
Accordingly,it wants Kiran Reddy's cabinet to have a new look but a sudden and sweepingpurge has its disadvantages - those dropped might embarrass the government byjoining the hands with Jagan Mohan Reddy.
PCCleadership was not discussed but Botcha is likely to be stripped of either of thetwo positionshe holds, sources said.
Butit would happen only after the current session of Parliament is over. Botcha isalso transport minister.
Priorto meeting Sonia, Reddy called on Vayalar Ravi and later met Veerappa Moily.
After meeting Sonia, Kiran and Botcha sat together anddiscussed a revamp of the PCC and filling of nominated posts, sources said.