Date:14/12/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/12/14/stories/2005121410670400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

BJP decries YSR remarks on deputy Chief Minister post

Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD : Bharatiya Janata Party has accused Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and APCC president K. Keshava Rao of belittling the Gentlemen's Agreement by their utterances on the demand for appointing a person from Telangana as Deputy Chief Minister.

At a press conference here on Tuesday, BJP State president N. Indrasena Reddy said the statement of Dr. Reddy at the Congress Legislature Party meeting that he would abide by the party high command's decision in this regard was tantamount to `insulting' the agreement.

He said the agreement, in a bid to ensure that there were no regional imbalances, had clearly stipulated that if the Chief Minister belonged to one region, his deputy should be from the other area. Mr. Reddy criticised Mr. Rao for describing the post as ornamental and urged him not to make light of the agreement whether it was given or not.

Replying to a question on six party MPs, who were accused of taking money for raising questions in Parliament, he described it as "unfortunate".