Congress High Command Gives Nod for Telangana Cabinet Expansion in July 1st Week

To address this critical issue, the high command has summoned key leaders of the Telangana Congress to Delhi on Wednesday. The party high command also deliberated on the Cabinet expansion with Telangana leaders and it is learnt that the high command gave its nod for Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to undertake the cabinet expansion in the first week of July.

Among those called to the capital are Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka, ministers N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, Seethakka, and several others. The objective of the meeting was to reach a consensus on appointing a new TPCC chief. Revanth Reddy has already been in Delhi since Monday, actively participating in the discussions.

Revanth Reddy met Congress top leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and AICC general secretary Mallikarjun Kharge during his three-day trip to Delhi since Tuesday to discuss the appointment of new TPCC chief, Cabinet expansion and filling of nominated posts in the government.

Party sources said the party high command has accorded nod for cabinet expansion and appointments for nominated posts in the government but is yet to come at a decision on appointment of TPCC chief.

It is learnt that Revanth Reddy has recommended minister Seethakka and Zaheerabad MP Suresh Shetkar for the post of TPCC president. Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, and working president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud are also in the race under the BC quota.

The total size of Telangana Cabinet is 18. At present, there are 12 ministers including the Chief Minister. There are still six vacancies which will be filled during the cabinet expansion. There is no representation for the combined districts of Adilabad, Nizamabad, Ranga Reddy and Hyderabad in the Cabinet at present. There are no MLAs for the Congress from Hyderabad district except Danam Nagender who won from the BRS and joined the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha polls. Danam contested from the Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat on the Congress ticket but lost to the BJP's G Kishan Reddy.

Revanth Reddy’s tenure as TPCC chief has been marked by significant achievements, most notably leading the Congress to victory in the 2023 Telangana Assembly polls — the first such victory for the party after the formation of Telangana state in 2014.

Before Revanth’s leadership, previous TPCC chiefs — Ponnala Lakshmaiah and N. Uttam Kumar Reddy — were unable to secure power for the Congress in the 2014 and 2018 Assembly elections. Despite the party's role in granting statehood to Telangana and fulfilling the six-decade aspirations of its people, the Congress struggled to establish a foothold, with the BRS coming to power for successive two terms by winning back to back Assembly elections in 2014 and 2019.

The appointment of Revanth Reddy as the TPCC chief in June 2021 is widely credited with reversing the party’s fortunes in Telangana. His dynamic leadership and strategic vision have been pivotal in the party's resurgence.

Now, as Chief Minister,Revanth Reddy is keen to focus on governance and effective administration, the party requires a competent TPCC chief who can act as a liaison between the party and the government, ensuring the smooth implementation of development programs and welfare schemes.

The upcoming three years are critical for the Congress, as it will have to face local body elections, including the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections. Strengthening the party’s base in the GHMC region, where it underperformed in Assembly and Lok Sabha elections,is a key priority.

The high command’s decision in appointing the new TPCC chief will be crucial in maintaining the momentum gained under Revanth Reddy’s leadership and ensuring the party’s continued success in Telangana.