'Andhra Pradesh CM Kiran Reddy to resign on Wednesday'

With the Lok Sabha clearing the Telangana Bill, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy will resign on Wednesday, his close aide said.

The chief minister has invited his loyalist ministers and legislators for a meeting tomorrow to formally communicate his decision to quit, according to state Social Welfare Minister Pitani Satyanarayana.

"The chief minister will address a press conference at 10.45 am and then proceed to Raj Bhavan to hand over his resignation to Governor E S L Narasimhan," the minister, one of the close followers of Kiran, said.

Asked if Kiran would launch a new political party, Pitani said "did he (Kiran) ever speak about it"?

"We are and will remain committed to the cause of united AP," he added.

Initially, there was talk that Kiran would step down as chief minister on Tuesday once the discussion on AP Reorganisation Bill began in Parliament.

But he is said to have deferred his plans following an "advice" by some Seemaandhra MPs, sources close to him said.

Though only about three or four of his cabinet colleagues and a handful of MLAs are by his side on the resignation issue, Kiran is said to have made up his mind to quit after a vain fight on the state bifurcation issue.

By relieving two of his Special Secretaries of their duties in a bureaucratic reshuffle last night, the chief minister dropped enough hints that he was on his way out.

His principal secretary and another secretary are also expected to be transferred out on Tuesday.