Hyderabad: The TRS’s top leadership has started an exercise to pacify MLAs who were disappointed at not finding a place in the recent Cabinet expansion.
Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, anticipating disappointment of certain MLAs with the Cabinet expansion, relea-sed a statement a day prior to the swearing-in ceremony of the new ministers that about 12 senior party leaders will get good posts in the government.
This did not appease former minister Jogu Ramanna who went underground after the Cabinet expansion, surrendering his security and has made no contact with the party so far.
Former ministers T. Rajaiah, Jupally Krishna Rao and Bhupalapally MLA G. Venkata Ramana Reddy were said to be disappointed, but on Tuesday, all three made statements that they have confidence in Mr Rao and will not leave the TRS.
Senior leader Naini Narasimha Reddy has expressed his dissatisfaction at not being taken into the council of ministers.
Sources disclosed that Mr Arekapudi Gandhi, MLA from Serilingampally, is also upset at not getting a Cabinet post and has refused the Whip's post offered by the party; he too surrendered his security.
Sources said that to pacify the dissident MLAs and senior leaders, the party chief has decided to offer nominated posts to some of them. He will also announce that senior leaders Kadiam Srihari and former Speaker Madhusudhan Chary will be given Rajya Sabha seats.
Sources said that MLA Bajireddy Goverdhan will be nominated chairman of the Telangana Farmers’ Coordination Samiti, MLC Palla Rajeshwar Reddy chairman of Mission Bhagiratha and Mr Jupally Krishna Rao chairman of the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation.
Though the party chief offered the RTC post to Mr Narasimha Reddy, he refused the offer saying he was not interested in a loss-making enterprise.
Sources in the TRS revealed that party working president K.T. Rama Rao has asked senior leaders to meet Mr Jogu Ramanna and convince him to stay with the party; he will likely be offered a nominated post if he does so.
