Rao's resignation evokes varied reactions from leaders

Hyderabad, Sep 12 (UNI) While Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy was guarded in his reaction to TRS President K Chandrasekara Rao's resignation from the Lok Sabha, TDP Chief N Chandrababu Naidu felt that the people should decide which of the two parties had 'cheated' on the Telangana issue.

When reporters asked Dr Reddy to comment on Mr Rao's announcement of his resignation, he asked ''is it so?'' and added ''let us see'', when asked about the challenge and counter-challenge between Mr Chandrasekara Rao and Sports Minister M Satyanarayanan Rao on facing each other at the hustings.

Meanwhile, Mr Chandrababu Naidu was of the opinion that ''it was nothing new for the Congress to fall into the trap laid by itself.'' He recalled that on the Office of Profit issue, the Congress initially 'embarrassed' Samajwadi Party leader Jaya Bachchan and Congress chief Sonia Gandhi was forced to resign from the Lok Sabha.

The Congress owed an explanation to the people on what basis it had aligned with the TRS for the last Lok Sabha and Assembly elections, Mr Naidu said, alleging that both parties had 'cheated' the people in the last two and a half years.

Meanwhile, Pradesh Congress President K Keshava Rao told media persons that the whole new episode was a mere challenge and counter-challenge between two personalities and the party had no role in it.

While CPI State Secretary K Narayana told reporters that such verbal challenges served no useful purpose, senior CPI(M) leader Y V Rao said no political significance should be attached to it.

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