Some Cabinet ministers ‘revolted’ against Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy on May Day, on Wednesday.
Two days after he unveiled a new scheme, Bangaru Thalli, for the welfare of girls, apparently to win over women voters, and attacked TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao strongly over the Bayyaram mines, Kiran Reddy was at the receiving end of the stick on Wednesday on both the issues.
Health Minister DL Ravindra Reddy, a vociferous critic of the Chief Minister, called upon the people to drive away Congress leaders if welfare schemes like Bangaru Thalli were not implemented properly. His colleague and Panchayat Raj Minister Jana Reddy fired a broadside at Kiran saying it was not proper for him to take a unilateral decision on any issue, including allocation of Bayyaram mines to the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant.
Ravindra Reddy took potshots at his boss, saying, “I appreciate Bangaru Thalli scheme as it is intended to improve the dwindling sex ratio. However, I call upon people to drive us away from villages if the programme is not implemented properly. Merely announcing new schemes will not do any good. We should implement the schemes with utmost commitment.”
Both Ravindra and Jana said Kiran Reddy was not consulting his Cabinet colleagues while deciding on key issues.
On Wednesday, Ravindra Reddy visited Gandhi Bhavan and confabulated with PCC chief Botcha Satyanarayana, another known critic of the chief minister. Ravindra Reddy, who seldom visits the party office, had a one-on-one discussion with the PCC chief.
Botcha, along with deputy chief minister C Damodara Rajanarasimha, was not seen at the chief minister’s programme in Medak district the other day. It is an open secret that both Botcha and Damodra corner Kiran Reddy at every opportunity.
Ravindra Reddy said he was not taken into confidence before the announcement of Bangaru Thalli scheme, which came into force on Wednesday.
“Bangaru Thalli is a good scheme. But, it should be implemented in a foolproof way. The mistakes committed by YS Rajasekhara Reddy in the implementing of the girl child programme in 2005 should not recur now. Even now, bonds pertaining the scheme for two years are pending,” he said.
He said he was totally ignored in formulating the Bangaru Thalli scheme even though his ministry plays a key role in its implementation. Though the program is monitored by the woman and child welfare department, it needs the cooperation of health department as the information of the birth of a girl child is to be provided by his department, the health minister said.
Ravindra Reddy also expressed his displeasure over the the implementation of Amma Hastam scheme.
PCC chief Botcha too joined chorus with his Cabinet colleague to take a dig at the CM.
“I have no knowledge of Bangaru Thalli scheme. I will comment on it after knowing it’s details,” Botcha told scribes when they sought his reaction to the scheme.
Danam, Pithani to CM’s Rescue: Coming to his rescue, Kiran Reddy’s supporters condemned the comments of his detractors.
Labour minister Danam Nagender told DL Ravindra Reddy not to cast aspersions on the chief minister.
“As the head of the Cabinet, the chief minister is empowered to announce any scheme. If it is a bad scheme, one can question. But, Bangaru Thalli is a very good scheme. It boosts the electoral prospects of the Congress,” Danam said.
Welfare minister Pithani Satyanarayana refuted the allegation that ministers had not been consulted while formulating schemes.
Meanwhile, the Cabinet sub-committee headed by finance minister Anam Ramanarayana Reddy reviewed the implementation of welfare schemes across the state at the secretariat here on Wednesday. Ministers Botcha, Dharmana Prasada Rao, N Uttam Kumar Reddy and others were present.
