Cabinet fissures widen as Ministers in Telangana clash over portfolios, decisions

Tensions are rising within the Telangana Cabinet as ministers express discontent over unilateral decisions and protocol violations. Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy was reportedly bypassed in a controversial ticket hike decision for Pawan Kalyan’s film OG. Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy is upset over the CBI probe into Kaleshwaram and lack of visibility at a key event.

Hyderabad: Cracks appear to be widening in the State Cabinet, with differences surfacing over interference in portfolios and decisions being taken without the consent of the concerned Ministers.

The intrusion of some Ministers into the affairs of others’ portfolios and unilateral decisions by senior officials are reportedly fuelling friction within the Cabinet.

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After the stampede at the Pushpa 2 benefit show last year, the Congress government had announced that no ticket hikes or benefit shows would be permitted in the State.

However, in violation of its own policy, the government allowed hikes for a few films. When Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s film OG released on Thursday, the Home Department in Telangana, under Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, permitted ticket hikes, which were later suspended by the High Court.

Cinematography Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy was said to have been kept in the dark. Secretariat sources indicated that the decision was pushed through under pressure from a close aide of the Chief Minister with strong links to the film industry.

The development has angered the Minister, who had categorically stated in the Assembly and elsewhere that hikes would not be allowed. He is expected to raise the matter at the next Cabinet meeting.

Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy is also reportedly upset over protocol violations at a September 9 event marking the diversion of River Godavari water from Mallanna Sagar to the twin reservoirs. His photos were not displayed prominently, and he was not informed of the schedule until the last minute.

He is also unhappy with the inadequate allocation of funds to the irrigation department, frequent revisions of project estimates, and the Chief Minister’s decision to hand over the Kaleshwaram project case to the CBI without his consent.

Similarly, Forest Minister Konda Surekha strongly objected to Labour Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy holding a meeting with forest officials at the Secretariat without informing her. Relations between the two Ministers have been strained, especially after Vivek was made Incharge Minister for Medak, replacing her.