Hyderabad: Almost a year and a half after the Congress formed the govt in Telangana, a fresh set of ministers are all set to be added to the Revanth Reddy cabinet. There is a buzz in Congress circles that the cabinet expansion is likely to happen in a fortnight. There is a possibility of the chief minister parting with some of the portfolios he is holding, and a reshuffle of portfolios among some ministers is not being ruled out.
‘Significant pressure’
Interestingly, of the four or five of the six vacant berths, AICC sources said, a majority of them would be first-time ministers. Though there is talk of one or two ministers being asked to step down, a senior AICC leader ruled it out, stating that the ruling party might not take a risk given the present political scenario.
The Congress govt is under tremendous pressure to implement its numerous promises, with a determined opposition leaving no stone unturned to expose the incumbent govt’s failures.
Sources said CM Revanth Reddy might part with some of the portfolios he is holding. The CM is currently holding education, home, minority welfare, municipal administration, and a few other portfolios. Some of the ministers are also willing to part with one or two portfolios they are holding.
AICC leaders Rahul Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and KC Venugopal gathered information on the cabinet aspirants from Telangana Congress brass in New Delhi on Monday. However, the party high command is yet to announce the names of candidates who would be making it to Revanth’s cabinet.
The talk in Congress circles is that G Vivek, Adluri Laxman (both from SC community), Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, Sudarshan Reddy, Malreddy Ranga Reddy (all from Reddy community), V Srihari Mudiraj, Aadi Srinivas (both BCs), Balu Naik (ST), three minority community candidates and a few other names were discussed seriously in the meeting between Rahul Gandhi and Telangana top guns.
‘No confirmation yet’
The assembly lobbies were abuzz on Tuesday with the talk of cabinet expansion and a reshuffle of portfolios. Congress MLAs are expecting that the cabinet expansion might most likely take place on April 3. However, there was no confirmation about this, neither from the CMO nor AICC.
A senior Congress leader said anything is possible in the grand old party. A cabinet expansion may take place before Ugadi (March 30) too. But the budget session of the assembly would continue up to March 27. Then, there is amavasya, (March 28-29). The CM would be launching the fine variety rice supply through ration shops at a programme in Huzurnagar assembly constituency on Ugadi day. “Keeping all this in view, we are expecting the cabinet expansion after Ugadi and most likely on April 3,” the senior leader said.
Going by the discussions held between the party high command and Telangana Congress brass on Monday, candidates from BC, SC, Reddy, and ST communities are likely to make it to the council of ministers. Though the AICC leadership is keen to have a Muslim in Revanth’s cabinet, no one is sure whether it would be done during this cabinet expansion or later, before the GHMC elections in Dec.
