Andhra Pradesh chief minister Kiran Kumar Reddy denies reports about resignation threat

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has denied reports that he had threatened to quit if the Congress high command took a decision to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh to create a separate Telangana state.

"It is absolutely false and baseless. It is malicious in nature. Soniaji is our leader and I have high respect for her. Personally, I have greatest regard for her as a true Congress leader," a statement issued by the state Information and Public Relations Department here quoted Mr Reddy as saying.

Following his brief meeting with Congress chief Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi this morning, there were reports that he has threatened to resign from his post if Congress decides to bifurcate Andhra Pradesh to form a separate Telangana state.

The Chief Minister met the Congress chief hours before the Congress Core Committee was scheduled to discuss the vexatious Telangana statehood issue and possibly spell out its decision based on the "road maps" prepared by the chief minister, his deputy and the state Congress president.