The Hindu : Front Page : Shinde quits, to join Union Cabinet

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Sunday, Jan 29, 2006

Front Page

Front Page

Shinde quits, to join Union Cabinet

Special Correspondent

Pallam Raju and Daggubati Purandareswari top the list of probables

HYDERBAD: Governor Sushil Kumar Shinde tendered his resignation tonight to pave way for his induction into the Union Council of Ministers on Sunday.

Mr.Shinde who left for Mumbai en route to Delhi sent his resignation to President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam by fax. It was accepted forthwith.

Meanwhile, arrangements are being made at Raj Bhavan here for the swearing in of a new Governor as an interim arrangement till a replacement is found for Mr.Shinde. The swearing in would take place here on Sunday

Sources said that either the Orissa or the Tamil Nadu Governor would hold additional charge of Andhra Pradesh.

The names of two members of Parliament from the State appear to be finding favour with the Congress high command for induction into the Union Ministry.

Among the several doing the rounds as contenders for Ministerial berths, M. M. Pallam Raju (Kakinada Lok Sabha constituency) and Mrs. Daggubati Purandareswari (Bapatla) seem to have the brightest prospects , Congress party sources said.

Rajya Sabha member V. Hanumanth Rao, Nedurmalli Janardhan Reddy (Visakhapatnam), D. Vittal Rao (Mahabubnagar) and Madhu Yaski Gowd (Nizamabad) are also said to be in the race but Congress sources could not confirm whether they stood a good chance.

Another name doing the rounds is that of K. Sai Pratap, five-time MP from Rajampet.

Party sources indicate that the fate of Dasari Narayan Rao and Renuka Chowdhary, both Union Ministers, hangs in balance, both having earned the displeasure of the Congress leadership.

They might be replaced with either of the three BC leaders --Mr. Pallam Raju/K. Sai Pratap/V. Hanumantha Rao -- and with Mrs. Puranderaswari respectively.

Although Mrs. Panabaka Lakshmi's chances of retaining her berth were also under strain, the party might find it difficult to find a replacement for her as she is among the few women MPs belonging to the SC community.

Mr. Yaski Gowd's prospects are rated low since he is reported to be part of a pressure group of young Congress MPs, that is already backing Mrs. Puranderaswari.

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