Date:02/09/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/09/02/stories/2006090206150600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council by January: YSR

Special Correspondent

Cabinet expansion decision not linked to it, says Chief Minister

NEW DELHI: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy on Friday said the State Legislative Council would be in place by early January next year, and asserted that the decision to expand his Council of Ministers was not linked to it.

Dr. Reddy, who arrived here on a three-day visit on Thursday night, told correspondents that the discussions to expand the Cabinet would be held later this month since the proposed reshuffle was expected to be around Dasara (last week of September and first week of October).

The Chief Minister said he met Union Law Minister H.R. Bharadwaj, who assured him that the Centre would take the necessary steps to notify the council once the Election Commission completed the process.

During the day, the Chief Minister had a meeting with party president Sonia Gandhi and AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh, and discussed issues concerning the State, including developments after the exit of Telangana Rashtra Samiti from the Union Government.

Asked about the concern expressed over naxalites joining the movement for separate Telangana, Dr. Reddy said the State Government was always alert since it was normal for such elements to `fish in troubled waters'. "We are always watchful and alert."

Dr. Reddy denied differences with Pradesh Congress chief K. Kesava Rao who met Ms. Gandhi separately urging her to expedite the process of consensus on Telangana.

He said while the Congress policy was for setting up a second States Reorganisation Commission, the State Congress leaders had left the issue to party president.

"We are not going to discuss the issue on a regular basis. We have left the decision to Ms. Sonia Gandhi."