Congress leader Vatti Vasantha Kumar, who submitted his resignation to Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy hours after he was sworn-in as a minister on December 1, finally assumed charge this afternoon.
Kumar, minister for tourism and youth services, had resigned protesting the allocation of an "insignificant" portfolio. He was minister for rural development in the previous K Rosaiah and YSR Reddy governments.
He was among the group of ministers who raised a virtual rebellion against the new chief minister over the "injustice" to backward classes in allocation of portfolios.
While most of the other disgruntled ministers reconciled following the Congress high command's intervention, Kumar initially remained firm on his resignation. He, too, subsequently relented after MLAs from his native West Godavari district prevailed on him to take back the resignation.
He met top AICC leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, in New Delhi in the last two days and pleaded his case. Following his interaction with Gandhi, Kumar had a change of mind and announced withdrawal of resignation.
He flew down to Hyderabad from Delhi this morning and assumed charge of his new job this afternoon.
Another minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah, who was reportedly unhappy with the information technology and communications portfolio, too, assumed charge this morning.
N Raghuveera Reddy, meanwhile, assumed charge as minister for revenue.
Damodara Rajanarasimha, who was initially tipped to be appointed the deputy chief minister, is yet to take charge of his new portfolio. He has been allotted the minister for higher and technical education.
