Hyderabad:
Andhra Pradesh Agriculture Minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy, who is likely to contest the coming by-polls in Kadapa district, today tendered his resignation as a Member of Legislative Council (MLC) but may continue to hold the office at the insistence of Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy.
Reddy, brother of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, said he submitted his resignation as his term as MLC ended on Tuesday.
"There may be a Constitutional provision for continuing in office. But I quit as my term as MLC ended yesterday. Moreover, why the ministership for someone who will be facing elections," he told reporters.
Meanwhile, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy said, "He (Vivekananda Reddy) has submitted resignation as his term ended yesterday. I have asked him to continue".
Vivekananda Reddy is most likely to contest the by-poll to be held on May 8 for Pulivendula assembly constituency.
The by-polls to Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula assembly constituency were necessitated following the resignations of Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and his mother Vijayalakshmi as an MP and an MLA respectively.
Vivekananda Reddy had in the past represented Pulivendula constituency as an MLA and Kadapa as an MP. He did not contest the 2009 Lok Sabha reportedly to make way for his nephew Jagan.
Even after Jagan quit Congress following differences with the party high command over the 'Odarpu (consolation) Yatra', Vivekananda chose to remain in the party.