It is only a matter of weeks before the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy makes his exit.
After defying the Congress high command's decision to bifurcate the state and making belligerent posturing, Kiran is now resigned to the inevitability of the state's division.
Forced to choose between the party that gave him unexpected elevation and the people of his constituency, the Chief Minister has made up his mind to choose the latter and quit the post.
Kiran's farewell mood was on display during his interaction with the media in Hyderabad on the occasion of completing three years in office.
The only question being asked in political circles now is whether he would resign before the draft bill on Telangana is taken by the Assembly, probably in the first week of December, or after the conclusion of the debate on the bill in the House. Either way, he knows that his innings are drawing to a close.
His address to the media was more like a farewell speech. “I am thankful to the people of the State for giving me an opportunity to serve them for three years. I am also thankful to Congress party president Sonia Gandhi for giving me this opportunity. But I am facing a peculiar situation now – to choose between the party and the people of the State, a situation even my worst enemy should not face,” he said.
Despite completing three years in office in an atmosphere of political uncertainty and turbulence, Kiran was not in a mood to celebrate.
In fact, he appeared to regret the fact that he could not stall the bifurcation of the state. When he was picked for the coveted post by the party high command three years ago, he was considered the novice with no ministerial experience.
Now, he is set to go down fighting and will be seen as a political martyr in the cause of united AP.
