 "Kiran Reddy blames leadership for Parliament incident")
Though appeared as a loose cannon while attacking the party and the government for attempting to ‘impose the division’ on the people of AP, the chief minister, on the question of quitting, however, said he still had time up to February 21, the last working day of Parliament.
“"What has happened in Parliament is very unfortunate. I was told that pepper spray was used in self defence, but it is for the Parliament authorities to state the facts. The issue here is that no parliamentary procedures were followed in introducing the Bill as BJP leader Sushma Swaraj pointed out...and these developments only indicate that nothing can be imposed by force,” Kiran Reddy said.
Hitting out at the party leadership and the government on multiple fronts, the chief minister said blunders were made at every juncture on the issue of bifurcation - right from taking the decision (in favour of bifurcation) followed by the way the Group of Ministers studied the issues to the Cabinet meeting that was held to approve the Bill.
“The ministers were denied even a couple of hours time to go through the Bill before coming to the meeting. Who do you blame if they enter the well of the House opposing bifurcation?” he asked.
When reminded of his earlier statement that he would resign from the post if the Bill was tabled in the House, Kiran Reddy said it was one of the options and a decision would be taken after consulting the MLAs and MPs among other leaders of his party, collectively. “No match is over till the last ball is played,” he reiterated his oft-repeated phrase saying it was not even clear whether the Bill was introduced in Parliament.
People in the CM’s camp believe Reddy was well on course to floating a party and was also hopeful of securing 30-35 Assembly seats in the ensuing elections in Seemandhra.