Looks like the time is up for Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy who has angered the Congress high command with his frequent bouts of defiance over the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh.
His recent letters to the President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh appear to have come as a last straw for the party.
The Delhi bosses are seething in anger over the Chief Minister writing directly to the President and Prime Minister, questioning the wisdom of the Congress Working Committee and union cabinet in deciding to divide the state.
According to indications from Delhi, the Congress central leadership has more or less decided to replace Kiran with somebody who can cooperate ensuring that the bifurcation process is completed in a smooth manner.
The names of senior ministers from Seemandhra-- Kanna Lakshminarayana and N Raghuveera Reddy-- are doing rounds in political circles as the front-runners for the coveted post.
Though the Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayan Reddy is also in the race, there is a perception in Congress circles that bringing in another leader from Reddy community may not be desirable at this juncture.
Both Kanna and Raghuveera enjoy the goodwill of a majority of the Seemandhra legislators. Moreover, they are loyal to the core to the high command.
It is said that the party wants to put an end to the rebellion by the Chief Minister by showing him the door and sorting out the leadership issue over the next one week.
Recently, the Congress core committee, at its meeting in Delhi, had felt that Kiran has clearly overstepped his authority by shooting off letters to the President and Prime Minister.
His letter is seen as an open challenge to the leadership. The Chief Minister has been making open statements, saying he would ensure the defeat of Telangana resolution or Bill whenever it comes up before the Assembly.
"We cannot allow this kind of revolt by Chief Minister anymore," said a senior Congress leader.
