CM K Chandrasekhar Rao may expand Cabinet

Hyderabad: Speculation over a cabinet reshuffle and its expansion has put TRS ministers and legislators on tenterhooks.

Though Chief Minister K. Chandrase-khar Rao has not fixed the muhurtham, his long talks with the Governor and the coming Budget session has triggered speculation of an imminent cabinet rejig before the Assembly meet.

Mr Rao had hinted at Cabinet expansion by the end of September, but it was put off. The CM is heading a 12-member Cabinet and he may take another six ministers at one go or in two phases.

At present, there is no representation in the Cabinet from Mahbubnagar and Khammam districts and from among women.

The talk of expansion has triggered hectic activity in TRS circles. Ministers and aspirants have become hyper active and are trying to get noticed by the CM. The Opposition criticism of the power crisis, ration cards and other issues have come in handy.

If party circles are to believed, Tummala Nageswara Rao, a close friend of Mr Rao, hailing from the Kamma community, who quit the TD and joined TRS recently, may get an MLC and ministerial berth besides Koppula Eshwar (Dharmapuri SC), Jadcherla MLA, Laxma Reddy or Kollapur MLA, Jupally Krishna Rao, Konda Surekha, Rekha Naik among others.

“There is every chance of Cabinet expansion after Diwali. Going by speculations Tummala and Koppula Eshwar may make it. Juppally too should get it,” said a TRS MLC.

Said another aspirant MLA, “CM garu knows who has been with the party since its inception and who was active in the Telangana movement. I am sure contribution to the party and movement will be the main criteria.”

Kothagudem MLA Jalagam Venkat Rao, the lone TRS winner in Khammam district, was the obvious choice, but the entry of Tummala changed the scenario.

Mr Rao may reshuffle protfolios, including that of home minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy,  who is recovering from a leg ailment and is finding it difficult to travel.

Besides Venkat Rao, being a Velama is proving to be a minus since Mr Rao, K.T. Rama Rao and T. Harish Rao are from the same community. Another TRS Kollapur MLA Jupally Krishna Rao is facing a similar problem.

Tummala is getting all the attention in the corridors of powers including KCR’s close circuit and party. Jalagam Venkat Rao is feeling let down.

Party sources say KCR is encouraging Tummala though he lost the recent general elections since he is a name to reckon with in Khammam politics and hails from the powerful Kamma community.

CM plans to use Tummala to strengthen the party in Khammam district, where it is very weak with just one MLA, to win over the powerful Kamma community in Telangana region including Hyderabad city, besides taking on AP Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu.

Women legislators Kova Laxmi (Asifabad ST), Rekha Naik (Khanapur ST),  B Sobha (Choppadandi SC), G Sunita (Alair), Konda Surekha (Warangal East) are also eyeing cabinet berths.

KCR may reshuffle portfolios including that of Home Minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy, who is recovering from a leg ailment and finding it difficult to travel.

Several bigwigs from Telugu Desam, Congress, BSP and other parties including MLAs and MLCs joined TRS and some of them certainly expect posts which may prove to be a headache while selecting for KCR.

Prominent among them include T Srinivas Yadav, Teegala Krishna Reddy, Challa Dharma Reddy, A. Indra Karan Reddy, Koneru Konappa (all MLAs) besides several MLCs.