CM Kiran not just a Rubber-Stamp, but Powerful

Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy scored over his opponents in the KG Basin gas issue. His meeting with prime minister on Tuesday worked in favor of the state as Manmohan Singh immediately directed the Union Minister of Power and Energy to stop the Reliance gas diversion from KG Basin to Ratnagiri Power Project in Maharashtra. This move by the Centre will enable the state to generate an additional 400 MW of power.

Union petroleum minister Jaipal Reddy who was allegedly behind issuing the gas diversion orders has lost the battle to Kiran. "Jaipal has been stating that he has no role in issuing the gas diversion orders and claiming that it was he who stalled the diversion orders for 11 months for the benefit of AP. If that's true, then why didn't he intimate about the situation to the chief minister or alert the state during that period," questioned Kiran's camp.

Halting gas diversion is the first major achievement of Kiran Kumar Reddy after taking charge as chief minister of the state. With this, Kiran has sent a message to rivals and people of the state that he is not just a rubber-stamp, but powerful enough to make things work in his favour.