Congress faces challenges from youngsters over Telangana cabinet expansion

Speculation over a Telangana cabinet expansion and portfolio reshuffle has intensified, with senior and younger Congress MLAs lobbying for ministerial berths. The leadership faces a balancing act involving regional, community and age considerations while accommodating competing aspirants

Hyderabad: With speculation over a cabinet expansion and reshuffle of portfolios doing the rounds for the past few days, the Telangana Congress appears to be on sticky ground, with both senior and younger MLAs vying for ministerial berths.

Several senior MLAs have already been making rounds in New Delhi, seeking to impress upon the AICC leadership the need to consider their names for cabinet berths. At the same time, junior and first-time legislators in the party are also hoping to find a place in the expanded cabinet.

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The aspirations of younger MLAs have gained momentum after Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy announced that resolutions would be passed in both the Assembly and Legislative Council seeking a reduction in the minimum age for becoming an MLA, MLC or MP.

Though the Congress government is aware that such resolutions alone would not be sufficient to bring about a change in the minimum age, the move is seen as an attempt to score brownie points with the younger generation.

Against this backdrop, the names of a few younger MLAs, including Naveen Yadav and Yashaswini Reddy, are doing the rounds in Gandhi Bhavan.

Though the State leadership has made no announcement in this regard, there is a buzz that younger MLAs may have to be accommodated in the cabinet expansion or reshuffle to appeal to youngsters, according to a senior party leader.

Meanwhile, following the removal of Warangal East MLA Konda Surekha from the cabinet, senior MLAs are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that their names figure in the list of new ministers.

The sudden appearance of Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy at the public meeting in Nakrekal on Saturday is being seen in this context. In the past, Rajgopal Reddy had remained absent from several programmes attended by the Chief Minister as the chief guest.

Apart from him, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar, Devarakonda MLA Balu Naik and Dornakal MLA Ramchander Naik are among those being considered for ministerial berths.

Following Konda Surekha’s removal, there are currently three vacancies in the cabinet. The State leadership will have to strike a balance between community, regional and age considerations while accommodating both senior and younger aspirants.

This is where the Congress is facing a challenge. Sidelining younger MLAs could invite criticism from the younger generation, while giving priority to senior aspirants could upset other contenders from different communities.

With all these factors at play, the Telangana Congress leadership appears to be walking a tightrope over the cabinet expansion.