Nizamabad: KCR loyalist Prashanth scores in fresh Cabinet

Nizamabad: As reported in these columns, Balkonda MLA Vemula Prashanth Reddy was elevated as a Cabinet minister on Tuesday. He was sworn in as the minister for roads and buildings and transport departments.

TRS was faced with a dilemma because of its eight MLAs from Nizamabad, six of them had the credentials to be ministers based on their experience, community equations and other reasons.

But, Deccan Chronicle had reported on December 19, 2018 that Balkonda MLA V. Prashanth Reddy was likely to be inducted into the state Cabinet. Obedience and a strong bond with Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, paid off for Prashanth Reddy. He was elected as MLA from Balkonda Assembly constituency in 2014 and 2018.

Mr Prashanth Reddy’s father late V. Surender Reddy was associated with Mr Chandrasekhar Rao since the inception of TRS. Late Surender Reddy worked as TRS farmers’ wing state president for a long time.

In the last government, Mr Prashanth Reddy worked as the vice-chairman of Mission Bhagiratha, the prestigious scheme of the TRS government.

Considering local political equations, Mr Chandrasekhar Rao fielded Mr Prashanth Reddy in the Assembly elections.  His chances of getting into the Cabinet brightened after Banswada MLA Pocharam Srinivas Reddy was elected Assembly Speaker instead of minister from undivided Nizamabad district.

Nizamabad MP K. Kavitha also played a key role in getting the minister’s post for Prashanth Reddy. And the bonus for him was that Mr Chandrasekhar Rao openly said that Prashanth Reddy was like a son to him during the CM’s visit to Nizamabad district.

Meanwhile, the elevation of Prashanth Reddy led to celebrations in Balkonda Assembly constituency on Tuesday. TRS leaders and activists celebrated in various mandals.

It is to be noted that during the Congress-TRS coalition government in 2004, then TRS Armoor MLA S. Santosh Reddy too worked as the transport minister.