Speculations rife about Cabinet expansion in Telangana after budget session

Several hopefuls are hoping to land a berth while a few existing Ministers are keeping their fingers crossed on their future

HYDERABAD: The speculations of a Cabinet expansion, most probably soon after the budget session, are leaving aspiring leaders and a few Ministers tense.

Apart from leaders aspiring for a berth in the Cabinet, a few existing Ministers are worried that there could be a reshuffle of portfolios or that they might be stripped of their existing portfolios.

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The Cabinet expansion and filling of nominated posts have been due for long. The State leadership has been delaying the exercise triggering unrest among those aspiring for a berth in the Cabinet.

As the MLC elections under the MLAs’ quota are over, now there is speculation that there could be a Cabinet expansion anytime after the budget session. In this context, like the aspirants, a few existing Ministers are also keeping their fingers crossed.

It may be recalled that AICC general secretary K C Venugopal during a meeting with Ministers and senior leaders in January had come down heavily on them over rampant corruption charges in the State government.

The AICC general secretary had also reportedly expressed displeasure over the commission being demanded for clearing bills and others. This apart, the surprise nomination of actor-turned-politician Vijayashanthi as Congress MLC under the MLAs quota also left many baffled.

There is also buzz in Gandhi Bhavan that Vijayashanthi might be inducted into the Cabinet under the women and BC quota.

There are six vacancies in the Cabinet and many leaders are aspiring for a berth. Given the allegations of commission being demanded and court cases, a few Ministers are anxious about their future.

Already, senior leader and former Minister P Sudarshan Reddy is eyeing a berth from Nizamabad, so are Malreddy Ranga Reddy from Greater Hyderabad region and Premsagar Rao from Adilabad. There is also no representation from Minorities in the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that the AICC general secretary is likely to hold a meeting with senior leaders in a few days to discuss Cabinet expansion and filling of nominated posts.