Thammineni demands resignation of KTR

Hyderabad, July 28: The CPI-M State Secretary has demanded the resignation of Telangana Industries and IT Minister KT Rama Rao as he is on the board of directors of Himanshu Motors, a private business entity.

Tammineni Veerabhadram said that the Representation of People's Act mandated that persons holding constitutional posts should not hold portfolios in private business entities, but Mr. Rama Rao was a director in the private company as was evident from the returns filed by the Himanshu Motors for the year 2015-16.

"He is ineligible to continue as Minister. The election affidavit filed by Mr. Rama Rao too affirms that he is on the board of the company as a major shareholder with 3 lakh shares constituting 60% of the total shareholding of the company," he said.

Mr. Veerabhadram expressed concern over the ongoing controversy over the purchase of vehicles by the State Government from a dealer who belonged to the NDA's vice-president nominee M. Venkaiah Naidu's family. The Government should order a judicial probe to ascertain the facts in the case, he said.

Replying to queries, he said that the CPI (M) would petition the Election Commission of India with proofs it had against Mr. Rama Rao seeking appropriate action besides raising the issue at the national level.