Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, who created a sensation of sorts by stripping Civil Supplies Minister D Sridhar Babu of his Legislative Affairs portfolio and given it to his aide Minister S Sailajanath, on Wednesday said that he would wait for the ball before hitting it in right time.
In an informal chat with media at his camp office, the Chief Minister maintained that he had discretionary powers to allocate or change the portfolios of his Cabinet colleagues.
“My focus is on conducting debate on Telangana Bill and I have not thought of future plan. Changing portfolios of ministers is in my purview and there is no need to answer to anyone on this issue”, he said, adding that he will not respond to criticism by the Congress, TRS and others leaders.
The CM maintained that he had reshuffled portfolios to pave the way for debate on the Telangana Draft Bill. Kiran had stated that the debate should be held in the Assembly and Council on pros and cons of bifurcation or keeping the State intact, besides benefits and losses.
Kiran said Sridhar Babu was entrusted with the job of Commercial Taxes portfolio whose income reduced. Since Sridhar Babu is an efficient minister, he was given that department for increasing income, he said. The Chief Minister appealed to the leaders of all regions to talk on Telangana Bill. “First, we need to make use of the time till January 23 given by President Pranab Mukherjee. And then think of additional time if necessary”, he said. He said debate on T Bill should be held as per procedures and norms.
