Kiran Reddy denies resignation reports

Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy has denied reports that he has resigned in view of the Congress leadership's decision to carve out a separate Telangana state.

The chief minister's office has termed the resignation reports in a section of the media as 'incorrect and baseless'.

Kiran Kumar Tuesday morning left for New Delhi on summons by the party leadership ahead of the meetings of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) coordination panel and the Congress Working Committee.

Congress sources have not ruled out Kiran Kumar submitting his resignation if the party announces a decision to bifurcate the state. He has already conveyed to the leadership that he can't preside over the state's division.

If he quits, the party may either name his successor or bring the state under President's rule to facilitate formation of Telangana state.

The Congress core group, in its meeting last week, had rejected his objections to carve out Telangana state. Hailing from Rayalaseema region, Kiran Reddy is opposed to state's division and had pleaded the leadership to at least delay a decision.

After the core group meeting, the chief minister had called on party president Sonia Gandhi but had returned disappointed to Hyderabad the same day. The ministers from Seemandhra (Rayalaseema and Andhra regions) who called on him during last three days, said he was very upset over the turn of events.

One minister T.G. Venkatesh said Kiran Reddy may quit if a decision was taken to accord statehood to Telangana.