For those who are familiar with Delhi would know that Janpath is a cool place for shopping. That is where Kiran Kumar Reddy picked up an item that his leadership told him, he should put to good use back home in Hyderabad. A broomstick to clear off the taint in his cabinet.
So late on Sunday night, the chief minister summoned his Roads and Buildings Minister Dharmana Prasada Rao and Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, both chargesheeted in different cases related to YS Jaganmohan Reddy’s Disproportionate Assets case, and apparently read out the riot act. If sources are to be believed, there was firing in retaliation as well. The result was while both Sabita and Prasada Rao left in a huff in their personal vehicles without the blue beacon, there was no official word on whether they had put in their papers. Their supporters however said that both leaders had quit and were resigned to their fate.
Fact of the matter though was both had in fact resigned or offered to resign when their names figured in the CBI’s chargesheet. Prasada Rao in August last year and Sabita last month. It was Kiran who had advised them to stay at the crease, while he faced most of the opposition’s beamers. But post Pawan Kumar Bansal and Ashwani Kumar’s inglorious exits from the Union cabinet, the Congress could not be seen following different rules in New Delhi and Hyderabad. Hence Sabita had to be asked to go home and Prasada Rao told to take the road less travelled.
But the fact that both ministers had to be summoned again on Monday afternoon, was an indication that both had in fact, dug in their heels the previous night. Both felt they were being made the scapegoat for decisions taken by the entire YS Rajasekhara Reddy cabinet between 2004 and 2009 and pointed to lack of any financial benefit to them by issuing the government orders. The allegation is that the GOs issued by Sabita (as Mines minister) and Prasada Rao (as Revenue minister) had helped Jagan’s business deals, while causing a loss to the state exchequer.
Prasada Rao reportedly threatened to resign even as an MLA, in protest against the move to make an example of him. He argued that the resignation would strengthen the label of a “corrupt minister” and would harm his political career. Rao is a strongman in Srikakulam district in north coastal Andhra Pradesh and already has family members perched in positions of authority in the YSR Congress. Pushed into a corner, Rao has the potential and political muscle to inflict damage on the Congress. Sabita isn’t in Rao’s class but can nevertheless follow in his footsteps.
By showing the door to the duo, the Congress has also put its hand into a honeycomb. For there are three other ministers—Industries Minister Geeta Reddy, Agriculture Minister K Laxminarayana and IT Minister P Laxmaiah—who could be next in the firing line of the CBI. The Supreme Court has already questioned about the GOs issued by them as ministers in the YSR cabinet. Sacking these heavyweight ministers would reinforce the perception that the Congress under YSR provided a corrupt government. The Congress in the last two years has tried to distance itself, claiming that it was Jagan, encouraged and helped by YSR, who indulged in corruption.
It would also give a handle to Chandrababu Naidu who is trying to sell the dream of a non-corrupt efficient regime under his leadership. Out of power for nine years now, Naidu would hope Andhra Pradesh’s voters emulate their Karnataka counterparts in rejecting corruption and misgovernance.
Another worry for the Congress would be to ensure these leaders do not cross over to the Jagan camp. One option is to use the CBI should they attempt to do so. Former infrastructure minister Mopidevi Venkataramana has been in jail for a year in a similar case. But in case, they still go ahead, the party will go to town proclaiming that YSR Congress is admitting all corrupt politicians.
There is also the feeling that the decision to remove the chargesheeted ministers has come a bit too late in the day. The delay has buttressed the feeling that Congress can live with ministers who are perceived to be corrupt so long as they are politically useful.
But it is not as if there is overwhelming support for Sabita and Rao within the Congress. Because aspirants for ministerial positions are salivating at the prospect of becoming the next home minister of Andhra Pradesh. There is a strong lobby within the party that is pushing for the removal of other ministers who are under a cloud as well, to create more space in the Cabinet. They should instead pray that no more skeletons tumble out of the cabinet in the run-up to the elections.
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