BJP leader says he was not made ‘scapegoat’

BJP leader Y. Lakshminarayana, who resigned from Assembly in protest against the “unfavourable terms of reference” of Srikrishna Committee, feels he had not become a “scapegoat” and said that his decision was being hailed by people from all over Nizamabad district.

In a giant killing act in the 2009 elections, Lakshminarayana trounced APCC president D. Srinivas in Nizamabad Urban constituency and made his maiden entry into the Assembly. With the acceptance of his resignation by Speaker N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, BJP is now left with only one MLA, G. Kishan Reddy. Although Mr. Reddy announced that he too would resign, he did not submit his resignation letter.

“Though I resigned from the Assembly, I earned a permanent place in the people’s hearts. I honoured the word I gave to the people that I am ready to sacrifice (my seat). I am feeling happy as people are with me and I am with people,” he said.

While it was necessary to inform the BJP floor leader before resigning, Mr. Lakshminarayana said he could not contact Mr. Kishan Reddy when he had submitted his resignation as the latter was not in town at that time. He went ahead and gave his letter in accordance with the decision taken by the party earlier.

It is learnt that at the recent meeting of State BJP office-bearers, a few leaders opposed the decision to make the MLAs resign, while a majority wanted them to quit. The party’s national spokesperson and in-charge AP affairs, Prakash Javdekar, while advising the MLAs to act in accordance with the decision of JAC, wanted them to wait and watch the moves of both the Congress and Telugu Desam. Mr. Lakshminarayana faulted the Congress and TDP legislators for not submitting their resignations. “They claimed that they were ready for any sacrifice but have gone back on their word when the time has come. People won’t accept it.”

Mr.Kishan Reddy, who is in Indore attending the party’s national executive, could not be contacted.