Resentment is brewing in the ruling Congress in Andhra Pradesh with a section of leaders openly attacking the central leadership for talking to the TRS over the Telangana issue.
A few ministers and party leaders unhappy with Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy's style of functioning appear to be rallying around Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha, who is reportedly eyeing the chief minister's post.
Ministers K. Jana Reddy, D.L. Ravindra Reddy and G. Saraiah and senior leaders Gade Venkat Reddy and K.C. Diwakar Reddy have held talks with the deputy chief minister.
Health Minister D.L. Ravindra Reddy Thursday sought a change in the leadership.
He said if the central leadership can't remove Kiran Kumar Reddy as the chief minister, it should drop him (Ravindra Reddy) from the cabinet.
Sulking over the changes in his portfolio, Ravindra Reddy had sent his resignation to Congress president Sonia Gandhi in March but later withdrew it after he was told his grievances will be studied.
Ravindra Reddy and other leaders are also unhappy with the central leaders for talking to Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief K. Chandrasekhara Rao instead of holding consultations with party leaders from all the regions of the state.
In the last few days, top Congress leaders called on TRS chief, who is camping in Delhi, as the central government stepped up its efforts to find a solution to the vexed Telangana problem.
The TRS has reportedly offered to merge with the Congress if the latter accords separate statehood to Telangana.
Another minister, T.G. Venkatesh, who is a loyalist of the chief minister, has warned the central leadership that unilateral consultations over Telangana would create problems for the party.
The leader, hailing from Rayalaseema region, opposed any bifurcation of the state.
Congress leaders from coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema regions are holding talks among themselves on the strategy to be adopted.
According to party sources, they are planning a visit to Delhi to meet Sonia Gandhi to oppose any move to carve out Telangana state.