The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh / Hyderabad News : Kiran bats for HPS friends?

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Monday, Nov 29, 2010
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Kiran bats for HPS friends?

Special Correspondent

Suresh Reddy, Uttam Kumar Reddy, Damodar Raj Narasimha on his“radar”

Damodar Raj Narasimha may pip J. Geetha Reddy for the Deputy Chief Minister post
Speaker post likely for Geetha Reddy while Uttam Kumar may be the new Chief Whip

HYDERABAD: Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy appears to have made a pitch with the Congress high command to induct some of his erstwhile friends from the HPS into his Cabinet but the plan reportedly ran into a hurdle.

Mr. Reddy is said to have batted for former Speaker K. R. Suresh Reddy and legislators – N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and C. Damodar Raj Narasimha -- all HPS alumni. According to sources, Mr. Reddy drew a list of 10 legislators, close to him before leaving for New Delhi to lobby with the party leadership.

Road block

It is understood that he was particular about bringing in his friend, Mr. Suresh Reddy, into the Cabinet, even though the latter had lost the last Assembly election from Armoor constituency in Nizamabad district in 2009. However, his attempt faced a road block as APCC president D. Srinivas and former Minister Md. Ali Shabbir, hailing from the same district, and lost the 2009 Assembly elections, reportedly opposed it.

But, sources maintained that Mr. Reddy reportedly managed to get the name of C. Damodar Raj Narasimha cleared for the Deputy Chief Minister's post. By lobbying for his HPS mate, former Minister J. Geetha Reddy, another strong contender for the Deputy CM's post, may now be considered for the Speaker's post.

The Chief Minister is said to have used his good offices to see that his friend N. Uttam Kumar Reddy got a prime position.

Bhatti to be Minister?

Though he was in the race along with former Home Minister for a Cabinet berth, Mr. Uttam Kumar Reddy is now being tipped to take over as the Government Chief Whip in place of the incumbent Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka. Mr. Bhatti, who enjoys close rapport with the Chief Minister, is likely to be elevated as a Minister.

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