Kiran Kumar sworn in Andhra Pradesh chief minister

HYDERABAD - N. Kiran Kumar Reddy was Thursday sworn in as the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh, a day after K. Rosaiah resigned on health grounds.

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to Reddy at 12.14 p.m. at a ceremony at Raj Bhavan here. The 50-year-old leader from Chittoor district in Rayalaseema region took oath in Telugu.

The brief and simple ceremony was attended by Rosaiah, Congress party’s central leaders M. Veerappa Moily, Ghulam Nabi Azad, state Congress chief D. Srinivas, former ministers in Rosaiah’s cabinet and other leaders.

Reddy, who alone took oath, will leave for New Delhi later in the day to meet party president Sonia Gandhi and other central leaders for consultations to constitute his ministry.

Moily, who is also in charge of party affairs in the state, has announced that a deputy chief minister from Telangana would be appointed.

Earlier, the governor invited Reddy to form the government after state Congress chief D. Srinivas Thursday morning called on him and informed him that the Congress Legislature Party (CLP) has elected Reddy as the new leader in place of Rosaiah.

Gandhi Wednesday night named Reddy as the new chief minister, hours after the party legislators unanimously authorised her to choose the successor to Rosaiah, who resigned citing health reasons and work pressure.

Reddy, who was the state assembly speaker, resigned from the post Wednesday night. He was earlier the government chief whip but was never a minister.

Son of former minister N. Amarnath Reddy, he represents Pileru constituency in Chittoor district of Rayalaseema region.

A four-term legislator, Kiran Kumar Reddy was born and brought up in Hyderabad. He studied B. Com. and law from the Osmania University. During his student days, he was a passionate cricketer, captained the university team and also played for the Hyderabad team in the Ranji Trophy.