Amid Revanth Reddy’s CM claims, Sridhar Babu stresses high command role

Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu said the Congress high command would decide the Chief Minister’s post, indirectly countering Revanth Reddy’s claims of a long tenure, while also addressing Cabinet expansion speculation and internal party issues

Hyderabad: In perhaps the first instance where he has spoken out, though indirectly, against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s claims of continuing in office, Industries Minister D Sridhar Babu said it was the Congress high command that would take a decision on the Chief Minister’s post.

Amid frequent visits by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and other Cabinet Ministers to New Delhi, Sridhar Babu said that as a national party, leaders and Ministers were bound to respond whenever the high command called.

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“In case, if any leaders fail to follow instructions and does not fly to New Delhi, our jobs will be lost,” he said during an informal interaction with media persons here on Tuesday.

Against the backdrop of the Chief Minister’s repeated assertions that he would remain in office for 10 years, the Industries Minister said that if the Congress returned to power in the State, the party high command would decide on the Chief Ministerial candidate.

Earlier, Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy had also criticised the Chief Minister’s claims of continuing in office for a decade. On the speculation surrounding Cabinet expansion, Sridhar Babu said he had no information. “I am clueless over my post will continue or not. The party high command decides everything,” he said.

He also expressed concern over former Minister T Jeevan Reddy’s reported plans to quit the Congress and said the party leadership should intervene.

“I wish Jeevan Reddy to continue in the Congress. TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud should speak to him and convince him,” Sridhar Babu said.

Responding to Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy’s suggestion that former MLA T Jagga Reddy be appointed as TPCC president, he said it was a personal opinion.

“Ultimately, it is the party high command that takes a decision on TPCC president appointment,” Sridhar Babu said.