Speaking to media persons at his residence here today, Reddy gave vent to his anger over the manner in which he was shown the door. ``I agree that it is the chief minister's prerogative to retain or drop any minister. But had he indicated his mind to me even a day before the reshuffle, I would have quit on my own,'' he said.

However, another dropped minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav, whose followers raised slogans against the chief minister yesterday, today thanked Naidu for giving him an opportunity ``at a young age'' to serve as minister. Some of his followers were hurt that he was dropped on a festival day and could not contain their feelings, he explained.

Subba Reddy, who met the chief minister at his residenceyesterday, refused to put in his papers along with three other ministers and even picked up an argument with Naidu on the reasons for dropping him. The chief minister subsequently recommended to the Governor that Reddy be dropped from the Cabinet.

Subba Reddy, a senior leader from Kurnool district, however, made it clear that he was in no mood to leave the party or join the Congress. ``I will fight by remaining within the party.''

Referring to the chief minister's reported charge that his son, Mohan Reddy, was indulging in corrupt practices in Kurnool district, Subba Reddy said that his son was innocent. ``But I am ready to face any kind of probe to prove our innocence,'' he said.

He said that his son was made a scapegoat to remove him from the ministry. ``In Rayalaseema, it is a common practice that contractors who undertake works in a particular area pay money to peoples' representatives towards party fund or other expenses,'' he said. ``My son may have helped some local MLAs but had never taken moneyfrom any contractor,'' Subba Reddy explained.

The former minister lashed out at the style of functioning of the chief minister too. ``Most of the MLAs are unhappy with the chief minister but none of them is in a position to air the feelings out of fear. Naidu has a habit of insulting ministers by making them wait for long hours at every meeting,'' Reddy alleged.

Subba Reddy felt that the chief minister was carried away by the views of a group of leaders inimical to him. ``I never displayed over-obedience before Naidu. I have always preserved my self-esteem unlike several other ministers,'' he said.

Meanwhile, addressing media persons separately at his residence, Srinivas Yadav thanked Naidu for making him a minister at an early age. ``I did not even expect that I would be made a minister and I have no regrets whatsoever now,'' he said.

Asked about the reasons for his sack, he said: ``The chief minister decided to induct a fresher from the city into his Cabinet. Anyway, it is his (the chief minister)prerogative to choose his team.''

Yadav claimed that he had controlled corruption in the labour department and developed the TDP organisation in the twin cities during last three years. The charges against his brother were too minor in nature to warrant his dismissal from the Cabinet, he felt.