Hyderabad:TD general secretary Nara Lokesh is most likely to be inducted into the AP Cabinet in September.
There are strong speculations regarding a Cabinet expansion in TD circles. Chief Minister Naidu’s comments to officials regarding allotment of chambers to the ministers in the temporary secretariat has given strength to speculations.
Mr Naidu has directed officials to make provisions for chambers for three more ministers in the temporary secretariat.
Sources said the CM had been in a dilemma about whether to send Mr Lokesh to the Union Cabinet or induct him in the AP Cabinet. But it seems that he has now made up his mind to include his son into the Cabinet.
Currently there is no representation for Muslims and STs in the Cabinet. No Muslim had won in the last elections and Mr M. Srinivasa Rao is the only ST.
Leaders say that the three extra ministers that Mr Naidu had hinted would be a Muslim, an ST and Mr Lokesh.
Sources even said that Mr Lokesh would be given the important portfolios of power and industries, which are held by Mr Naidu.
Mr Lokesh will be made an MLC within six months after being inducted into the Cabinet.
TD leaders said municipal administration minister P. Narayana was lobbying for TD MLC from Vizianagaram district Gummadi Sandhya Rani, who belongs to the ST community, to be inducted into the Cabinet in the ST quota. But lone ST MLA, M. Srinivasa Rao, is a strong aspirant for the post.
Mr Naidu has made TD leader M.A. Sharif from Narsapuram in West Godavari district an MLC. If he wants to give Cabinet posts to Mr Srinivasa Rao and Mr Sharif – to give representation to STs and Muslims – it might be a problem as both belong to the West Godavari district.
BJP MLA P. Manikyala Rao is representing the district in the Cabinet. If Ms Sandhya Rani and Mr Sharif are inducted into the Cabinet along with Mr Lokesh, all three will be MLCs.
Sources said that the Chief Minister is considering the names of Mr Sharif and Mr Jaleel Khan, who has defected from the YSRCongress, as the Muslim candidates and Mr Srinivasa Rao and Ms Sandhya Rani to represent the ST community.
After completion of the ensuing Krishna Pushkaralu, Mr Naidu will concentrate on the Cabinet expansion, which will most likely be in September.
