The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Sour grapes for many hopefuls

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Thursday, Apr 26, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Sour grapes for many hopefuls

Ravi Reddy

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy had his way in persuading the party high command to ensure that he left his mark on the Cabinet expansion. However, the much-awaited exercise has left several aspirants disappointed, including Dr. Reddy's loyalists.

Hours after the names of the prospective ministers were revealed, Shadnagar MLA P. Shanker Rao sent in his resignation letter to the Chief Minister. Incensed Congress workers protesting against the denial of a berth to Government Whip D. Sridhar Babu took to the streets in Manthani town in Karimnagar district and staged a dharna. Several YSR loyalists like Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy, Government Chief Whip N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Allola Indrakaran Reddy and Vatti Vasant Kumar failed to find a place. Notable exclusion was dissident leader and Khairatabad MLA P. Janardhan Reddy, who has criticised the Chief Minister time and again. Instead, Dame Luck has smiled on Maharajgunj MLA M. Mukesh Goud.

An elaborate exercise appears to have been done by the Chief Minister in giving due representation to different regions and social groups. There are six Reddys, four BCs, two Kammas, two SCs, two Kapus and one Velama among the prospective ministers. By scuttling the demand to have a deputy chief minister from Telangana, Dr. Reddy has given the region a lion's share by providing an opportunity for eight MLAs followed by seven from Andhra and two from Rayalaseema. After the expansion, all the districts will have representation except Kadapa, which is represented by the Chief Minister himself.

Guntur district is set to get pride of place in the Cabinet, as three more MLAs are set to become Ministers, besides Kanna Lakshminarayana. Senior Congress leader and MLC Mohammed Jani, has been named the Deputy Chairman of Legislative Council. Chittoor, Karimnagar and Khammam districts will get to berths each.

Dr. Reddy also balanced the equations among warring Congress groups in Khammam by deciding to induct Sambhani Chandrasekhar and Vanama Venkateswara Rao. Galla Aruna is the lone woman to find a place.

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