Telangana: Revanth, PCC Chief Leave for Delhi Amid Cabinet Expansion Speculations

Hyderabad: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy left for Delhi on Wednesday, sparking widespread speculation about a possible Cabinet expansion, which has been anticipated for several months now.

Joining the Chief Minister in Delhi will be B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, who was appointed as TPCC president on September 6.

Official sources suggest that Revanth Reddy’s trip may also involve meetings with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union home minister Amit Shah to discuss financial assistance for Telangana’s ongoing flood relief efforts. The state is currently grappling with extensive damage due to floods and officials are seeking additional resources from the Central government.

The current Cabinet, which was formed in December 2023, still has eight vacant ministerial posts. Even after nine months in office, the Congress-led government has yet to establish a full cabinet. The delay has been attributed to various factors, including regional and caste-based considerations as well as the appointment of a new TPCC chief.

Goud hails from the Backward Classes (BC) community, a significant factor in balancing caste equations within the Cabinet. Political insiders suggest that his appointment has clarified the party’s approach towards giving representation to various castes in the impending cabinet expansion.

The size of the Telangana Cabinet is capped at 18 ministers, including the Chief Minister. Currently, there are 12 ministers.

Notably, there is no minority representation in the Cabinet, as no Congress candidate from the community had won in the December Assembly elections. To address this, the party may consider nominating a minority leader to the Legislative Council and then induct the MLC into the cabinet. Names like state government advisor Mohd Ali Shabbir and TPCC working president Mohd Azharuddin have surfaced as potential contenders.

Additionally, there is no cabinet representation for key districts such as Hyderabad, Rangareddy, Adilabad, and Nizamabad. While Congress secured a win in the Secunderabad Cantonment by-election in May 2024, won by Sri Ganesh, the party leadership may avoid granting cabinet positions to MLAs from city such as Danam Nagender, T. Prakash Goud and Gudem Mahipal Reddy, who had defected from the BRS, as disqualification petitions are pending in court.

Several Congress MLAs and MLCs are vying for the vacant cabinet positions. Among them are Bhongir MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy, who has expressed interest in a cabinet post, claiming that he was promised one upon rejoining Congress from the BJP before the 2023 elections.

Other key contenders include several MLAs like P. Sudharshan Reddy (Bodhan), Gaddam Vivekanand (Chennur), T. Rammohan Reddy (Parigi) and Malreddy Ranga Reddy (Ibrahimpatnam). MLC Balmoor Venkat is also in the running.

From the Scheduled Tribes (ST) category, MLAs Vedma Bhojju (Khanapur), Balu Naik Nenavath (Devarakonda) and Jatoth Ramachandru Naik (Dornakal) are also being considered.

In addition, Vemulawada MLA Adi Srinivas, Beerla Ilaiah (Alair) and Vakiti Srihari Mudiraj (Makthal) are hoping for cabinet appointments.

The Congress high command's final decisions will shape the balance of power within Telangana's political landscape as the state prepares for the much-awaited cabinet expansion.