Is Andhra Pradesh heading towards President's rule? Yes, if the intense speculations are any indication, the Centre is contemplating to bring the state under its direct rule for some time.
There are indications that the state will soon have a new governor in place of ailing N D Tiwari as first step towards the imposition of President's rule. Tiwari was not keeping good health for some time.
Names of former Kerala chief minister Oommen Chandi and former Madhya Pradesh chief minister Digvijay Singh -- both active politicians -- are doing the rounds as possible successor of Tiwari.
Sources say continuing state of turmoil and large-scale violence was the not the only reason for Center's concern. There were also worries about the state of political uncertainty and chaos prevailing in the state for the past one month. While first 140 MLAs and 21 ministers from Rayala Seema and Andhra region had tendered their resignations to put pressure on central government on Telangana issue, now the same method was being used by the Telangana ministers and legislators. More than 90 legislators from Telangana have announced their resignations putting a question mark on the stability of the state government headed by K Rosaiah.
Meanwhile, senior Congress leader M Satyanarayana Rao also warned that the state was moving towards President's rule. Satyanarayana, who resigned as APSRTC chairman in support of Telangana said that situation has taken a turn for the worse and there seems to be no option but to impose president's rule in the state.