As the political developments in the State began hotting up, the Congress government was forced to issue a denial of reports that Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy was being replaced by the party high command. These reports were a consequence of the meeting the Telangana MPs had with Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi and the latter's reported briefing to Congress president Sonia Gandhi.

Ridiculing the media reports, Minister for Panchayat Raj K. Jana Reddy termed them baseless, imaginary and without an iota of truth. Mr. Reddy was among those identified by these channels as among the three probables to replace the Chief Minister.

Mr. Reddy said his name would always figure prominently in political circles in the State, but the post of Chief Minister is not vacant. He asserted that the Kiran Kumar Reddy government would remain in office for the next three and half years.

Published Date : Friday, 14/1/2011 2:40 PM IST