No Jagan hand in AP rebellion, says Congress

The Congress saw no hand of Y S Jaganmohan Reddy in the rebellion in newly constituted Andhra Pradesh ministry over the allocation ofportfolios and expressed confidence that it will soon be over.

"It's not some kind of a Jagan plot. It could be a bargain tactic to take advantage of the tough situation," a senior party leader, who declined to be identified, said.

Union Minister M Veerappa Moily, talking to the media separately, dismissed talks of crisis in state. "There is no crisis" he said.

The allocation of portfolios to the newly-sworn in ministers in the state has triggered a rebellion against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.

V Vasant Kumar, who was Rural Development Minister earlier and now made Tourism Minister, sent his resignation to the Chief Minister late last night while many others were said to be contemplating to follow suit.

Another senior minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, who has been shifted from the important revenue portfolio to roads and building, is said to be under tremendous pressure from his followers in Srikakulam district to step down rather than stomach the "ignominy".

The Congress high command swung into action to defuse the crisis which is threatening to destabilise the Kiran Kumar Reddy government.

As part of efforts to mollify the dissatisfied ministers, the CM has despatched ministers Aanam Ramanarayana Reddy and Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy for talks with their rebellious colleagues.

Party sources said Sonia Gandhi's political secretary Ahmed Patel and Union Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad spoke to senior minister Botsa Satyanarayana, who is suspected to be behind the rebellion against Kiran Kumar Reddy.

Botsa reportedly told the AICC leaders that a lot of "injustice" was done to the backward castes in the allocation of portfolios as all the plum departments were handed over to the Reddys only.

The AICC leaders reportedly promised to talk to the chief minister and get back even as several sulking ministers met this morning to discuss their strategy.