Telangana Cabinet reshuffle: Ministers’ elevation as in-charge Ministers raises concerns within Congress

The Congress government's decision to appoint three Ministers as district in-charge Ministers has raised concerns of growing internal dissent. The reshuffle, seen as politically strategic, has upset some MLAs and Ministers who were overlooked for cabinet roles or reassigned

Hyderabad: A day after the Congress government elevated three ministers as in-charge ministers for three erstwhile districts, party leaders expressed concern that the move could further deepen existing rifts within the cabinet.

Mines and Geology Minister G Vivek Venkatswamy was appointed in-charge Minister for the erstwhile Medak district. His induction into the cabinet has not gone down well with Mancherial MLA Prem Sagar Rao, who was aspiring for a cabinet berth.

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Prem Sagar Rao reportedly enjoys the backing of several ministers who had strongly lobbied for his inclusion in the cabinet. However, the state leadership chose to induct Chennur MLA Vivek Venkatswamy, going against the wishes of this group.

“This could have long-term repercussions, especially within the SC wing of the party. Besides being an industrialist, the Mines Minister enjoys strong connections with the AICC. These factors may eventually create friction with some senior SC leaders,” a senior leader at Gandhi Bhavan observed.

While the elevation of Animal Husbandry Minister T. Srihari as in-charge Minister for Khammam has been hailed by some as a step toward social justice, others see it as a strategic move to curtail influence of disgruntled BC leaders.

It may be recalled that during the Assembly and Parliament elections, Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy had promised a cabinet berth to Srihari, a leader from the Mudiraj community and a close aide of AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge.

Forest Minister Konda Surekha, also from the BC community, previously served as in-charge Minister for Medak, a post now held by Vivek Venkatswamy.

Additionally, party leaders are uneasy about the exclusion of senior leaders like Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and Roads and Buildings Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy from the in-charge roles, fearing discontent among the upper caste communities.

These concerns intensified after Bodhan MLA Sudarshan Reddy was denied a cabinet berth. His supporters have demanded that he be accommodated in the cabinet ahead of the upcoming local body elections.

Similarly, Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy and Ibrahimpatnam MLA Malreddy Rangareddy, both of whom had hoped for cabinet berths, have also been left disappointed.