Hyderabad: The long-awaited expansion of the Telangana Cabinet might finally happen on Sunday. This has been delayed multiple times because many hopefuls have been arguing over positions based on caste, seniority, and regional factors.
The All India Congress Committee (AICC) has communicated with the state party leaders and Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy to prepare for the Cabinet expansion. However, if too many aspirants cause political unrest, it might be postponed again.
Currently, the party leadership has approved filling four Cabinet positions. Discussions continued late into Saturday evening to possibly add two more. The number of contenders for these positions is high, especially with caste considerations affecting the Cabinet’s final makeup. Four MLAs from the Madiga community are in New Delhi trying to secure more positions for their community, arguing it should reflect their population in the state.
Sources revealed that two positions will go to the Reddy community, one to Minorities, one to Backward Classes (BCs), and if two more are added, they will go to Scheduled Castes (SCs) and Scheduled Tribes (STs). However, there are more Reddy community aspirants than available spots. Ibrahimpatnam MLA M Ranga Reddy threatened to leave the Congress if not included in the Cabinet.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is trying hard to include Ranga Reddy, the only elected Congress MLA from Greater Hyderabad, in his Cabinet.
Khairtabad legislator D Nagender from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, who joined Congress after the Assembly elections, is also seeking a Cabinet seat. However, the Congress high command has concerns over his recent comments against the ruling party.
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and TPCC President Mahesh Goud are waiting for the final approval from the AICC for the Cabinet expansion.
The high command will decide on the new ministers, and their names will be announced from the party’s headquarters in New Delhi.
Munugode MLA Komatireddy Venkat Reddy's brother, K Rajagopal Reddy, wanted a ministerial role but it seems the high command is not considering him for various political reasons.
Other senior Congress leaders and MLAs like P Sudharshan Reddy from Nizamabad, G Vivek from Chennur, K Prem Sagar Rao from Mancherial, and MLC Vijayashanti are also strong contenders for Cabinet positions.
