HYDERABAD: A day after TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu announced that his party would join the Narendra Modi Government at the Centre, party circles are abuzz with speculation on the number of Cabinet berths it may get and who among them could make it to the Centre.
According to sources, Naidu is hopeful of being offered at least four ministerial posts - two Cabinet and two MoS. Almost all of the party’s newly-elected members of the 16th Lok Sabha along with its six Rajya Sabha members, from Seemandhra and Telangana, are in the race.
It is learnt that the TDP chief has almost finalised the candidature of his trusted lieutenant and senior colleague Pusapati Ashok Gajapathi Raju (Vizianagaram) for one of the Cabinet posts.
As Raju has vast political experience and is also fluent in English, Naidu is reportedly firm on recommending his name to Modi. The TDP chief is also said to be considering the names of veteran actor and producer M Murali Mohan and Rajya Sabha member Y V S Chowdary alias Sujana Chowdary from the Kamma community to which he himself belongs.
Sources said the TDP chief is positively considering Nimmala Kistappa from Hindupur for a Minister of State position.