Congress MP from Eluru, Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, Saturday resigned from the Lok Sabha after getting hints that he won’t be inducted into the Cabinet.
“Time and again I have been ignored though I am a five-time MP. People several years junior to me are being chosen while I have been ignored though I have faithfully served the party for 40 years and have been an MP for over 20 years. I have sent my resignation letter to Speaker Meira Kumar and PM Manmohan Singh expressing my disappointment,’’ he said in a statement.
Last year, Kavuri had threatened to resign as, he had said, he was being ignored for a ministerial job. This time, Vijayawada MP Lagadapati Rajagopal and Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary Ahmed Patel tried to pacify him and talk him into withdrawing his resignation, but Kavuri refused, saying he was expecting a call this time but the Congress again let him down.
For long, Mr. Rao had been aspiring for a Cabinet berth every time there was talk of expansion. This time round he was very confident of finding a place.
Party sources said the high command had decided to keep away from the Cabinet MPs having business interests or those who were industrialists and circulated this message to those who matter.
The Eluru MP has extensive business interests in infrastructure development.
It is understood that Ms. Sonia Gandhi’s Political Secretary, Ahmed Patel, spoke to Mr. Rao and promised that his services would be duly recognised by giving him a key party post. Chief Minister N.Kiran Kumar Reddy also telephoned Mr. Rao and requested him to withdraw his resignation.
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