AP minister Vasant Kumar may take back resignation

Andhra Pradesh minister V Vasant Kumar, who sent his resignation to Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy allegedly dissatisfied over the tourism portfolio allocated to him, may take back his resignation.

Several Congress members of Legislative Assembly from his native West Godavari district met Vasant Kumar in Hyderabad on Friday and urged him to withdraw his resignation in the interest of people of the district and also the party.

"We told him to withdraw his resignation in the interest of people in our district and Congress party. He responded positively," K Balaraju and other Congress MLAs said after a meeting with Vasant Kumar. They indicated that the minister may join duties next week.

Meanwhile, senior Congress member of Parliament from Eluru in West Godavari district K Sambasiva Rao has also reportedly tried to persuade Vasant Kumar to withdraw his resignation.

Vasant Kumar on Thursday refused to take back his resignation but said he would continue as party MLA. He had said he would meet Congress president Sonia Gandhi soon and explain the reasons for his resignation. Kumar also asserted that he would continue in Congress.

Senior ministers A Rama Narayana Reddy and others held discussions with him on Thursday in a bid to mollify him but he refused to budge.

Vasant Kumar held the rural development portfolio in the K Rosaiah government and has been given tourism by the new Andhra CM.