Telangana Cabinet expansion: Congress high command appears to have hit a roadblock

If any section feels neglected, it could be a counterproductive move for Congress, say party leaders

HYDERABAD: The Congress high command’s initiative to expand the Cabinet appears to have hit a roadblock considering the demands from different sections, including those from castes and districts and the uncertainty in finalising the candidates.

Last month, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy and a few Cabinet Ministers were summoned by the high command for an urgent meeting in New Delhi. It has been 10 days since the meeting but no announcement is made regarding the cabinet expansion.

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Amidst this delay, leaders from different castes within the party have made some demands for cabinet berths. Similarly, MLAs from Rangareddy districts have also intensified their efforts.

Considering the demands from different sections, party leaders observed that if any section feels neglected, it could be a counterproductive move for the party, especially with local body elections fast approaching.

Admitting that there were issues, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud said the cabinet expansion was under the party high command’s purview. There were six vacancies in the cabinet and there were issues in completing the exercise, he said while speaking to media persons in New Delhi.

“We are hopeful that all the issues will be addressed and the high command will take a decision shortly,” Mahesh Kumar Goud said.

Already, BC community leaders in the party were demanding the party to accord priority to the community in the cabinet expansion. An appeal was made to the high command to offer two berths for the BCs and there was all probability that our request would be considered, the TPCC president added.

However, the aspirants are getting restless due to the delay. Last year, it was believed that cabinet expansion would be anytime around Dasara and later it was said post Diwali and Maharashtra assembly elections. Eventually it was assured that it could be after Sankranthi.

This time, there was a strong buzz in Gandhi Bhavan that cabinet expansion could happen anytime after Ugadi and a few even said it could be on April 3, citing Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s meeting with Governor Jishnu Dev Varma on Sunday.

Going by the developments and turmoil in the party, there is every possibility that the cabinet expansion would get delayed by a few more days.