Cabinet expansion: Congress considers Sudarshan Reddy, Rajagopal Reddy, Vivek Venkatswamy, Srihari Mudiraj for ministerial berths

Hyderabad: All India Congress Committee (AICC) is considering four MLAs to fill vacant cabinet berths in the Revanth Reddy-led Telangana government. There are six cabinet berths vacant in Telangana. Four are likely to be filled in the next expansion. The four MLAs being considered include Sudarshan Reddy, Rajagopal Reddy, Vivek Venkatswamy, and Srihari Mudiraj.

The names are to be finalised soon and there is speculation that oath taking will be on March 30 or April 3.

Mudiraj Community

Sridhari Mudiraj is called the universal candidate. All the committees have given a green signal for his candidature. Representation of Mudiraj community is very important for Telangana Congress. The party wants to neutralize BJP MP Etala Rajendra’s clout and make inroads in this BC community.

According to sources, “With caste census over, the representation of Backward Classes, which accounts for 56.33 percent, holds top priority. In such a scheme of things, representation of the Mudiraj community holds top priority.”

Rajagopal Reddy

Congress cadre and leaders outside the Nalgonda district opposed the candidature of Rajagopal Reddy. Nalgonda region has the highest representation in the Telangana government.

The representation of Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy is nil. Party was inclined to give represenatation to Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy. However, there are ‘no proper’ representatives, Congress sources said. According to a senior Congress leader, “AICC had promised Rajagopal Reddy that he would be accommodated in the cabinet. Due to this reason, there is a lot of pressure. There is still a lot of speculation about whether he will make it or not.”

Education ministry

None of the four, whose names are doing the rounds, will get the education ministry. A senior Congressman explained, “Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is going to keep the education department with him only. He has a vision and plan for this department, and you will see the changes very soon.”

Presently, the education department of Telangana and the government schools are embroiled in controversies. There was a debate in the Assembly about the upkeep of schools and the food served to students under government schemes.

Why four out of six cabinet berths?

Only four berths are being filled now. Two are kept vacant to appease those who have left. There is also some discontent over the negligible representation of the Muslim community in the Telangana government.

Clamour is growing for giving adequate representation to Muslims akin to the backward class and other sub-castes.

New posts for appeasement

According to sources, the deputy speaker and chief whip will also be named to appease disgruntled elements. This will be done to appease the sections that are clamouring for their representation.

A senior Congressman, on condition of anonymity, said, “Congress' idea of social justice was seen in the MLC selection. The same will be followed for selecting the deputy speaker and chief whip. This is being done to accommodate the disgruntled elements and ensure proper representation to the castes.”

No deletions

Congress party insiders say that there will be no deletions in the existing cabinet of Revanth Reddy government. "There will be only additions to the cabinet. There are speculations in the media that minister Konda Surekha will be removed but that is not going to happen. This cabinet have only additions, no deletions," explained a senior Congress leader.

What about Hyderabad city?

For Hyderabad city, the Congress sources explained, “We have to work very hard for Hyderabad. Representation is low, and there is no support on the ground. To win GHMC elections, Congress will need to work on an effective strategy.”