Telangana: Congress Madiga MLAs seek more berths in Revanth Cabinet, write to Kharge
The legislators are pressing for more ministerial berths, citing an imbalance in the allocation of key positions within the party
Hyderabad: Congress legislators from the Madiga community have intensified their demand for equitable representation in Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy’s Cabinet. They are pressing for more ministerial berths, citing an imbalance in the allocation of key positions within the party, and have written to All India Congress Committee (AICC) president Mallikarjun Kharge on this.
The legislators argue that the Mala community already holds influential roles, including the Speaker’s position, and have expressed dissatisfaction over the prospect of additional ministerial appointments being granted to the same community.
Reports suggesting that industrialist G Vivek Venkataswamy may be offered a ministerial berth in the upcoming Cabinet expansion have further fuelled their concerns.
The Madiga MLAs have also highlighted the concentration of political power within the Vivek family, which currently holds two MLA positions and one MP position. This, they claim, underscores the need for inclusivity and fair distribution of opportunities across all factions within the party.
In a letter addressed to Kharge, the legislators appealed to the high command, pointing out that no representation was given to their community in the recent parliamentary polls.
They also presented the memorandum to Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, and Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy. Additionally, they made a representation to AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan.
The legislators emphasised that Madiga leaders were overlooked for candidacy in constituencies such as Nagarkurnool, Peddapalli, and Warangal during the last parliamentary elections.
They noted that the community, with a population of 33.33 lakh as per the 2011 census and an estimated addition of 15 lakh in the past 14 years, remains a major segment of the SC population in the State.
The six MLAs — Mandula Samuel, Kavvampally Satyanarayana, Vemula Veeresham, Thota Lakshmikantha Rao, Adluri Lakshman Kumar, and Kale Yadaiah — who signed the memorandum, were planning to meet Congress leader Rahul Gandhi to further press their demands.