Hyderabad: After months of anticipation, the stage is set for the much-delayed expansion of the State Cabinet at 12.15 pm on Sunday, according to the latest information available on Saturday. Sources added the Congress high command had on Saturday granted approval for the expansion, paving the way for the oath-taking ceremony at Raj Bhavan.
Despite the availability of six berths, the high command is said to have approved the filling of only three or four on Sunday. This partial expansion is expected to intensify the competition, with over a dozen strong contenders vying for Cabinet positions.
Among the front-runners were named as Kavvampally Satyanarayana (SC-Madiga) from Manakondur in Karimnagar district, Gaddam Vivek (SC-Mala) from Chennur in Adilabad district and Vakiti Srihari (BC-Mudiraj) from Makthal in Mahbubnagar district.
The inclusion of Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy, MLA from Munugode, appears unlikely. Party insiders point to three reasons: it would result in a third minister from the undivided Nalgonda district; there are already two Reddy community ministers from the region in N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Komatireddy Venkat Reddy; and his brother is already in the Cabinet.
Meanwhile, Congress MLAs hailing from SC-Madiga community met Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy at his residence on Saturday and sought a berth for Madiga community. They included Adluri Laxman Kumar (Dharmapuri), Kavvampally Satyanarayana (Manakondur), Mandula Samel (Thungathurthi), Vemula Veeresham (Nakrekal) and Kale Yadaiah (Chevella).
The Congress government, led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, took charge in December 2023. However, the Cabinet has remained incomplete since then, with only 12 members, including the Chief Minister, sworn in on December 7 last year. As per constitutional provisions, Telangana can have up to 18 ministers, leaving six positions vacant.
