HYDERABAD: After months of speculation and backroom talks, Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy on Sunday finally expanded his Cabinet by inducting three new ministers. But instead of filling all six vacant posts, the Congress high command opted to induct just three ministers, signalling its focus on caste balance while leaving several powerful leaders especially from the Reddy community disappointed and waiting.
Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath to Adluri Laxman Kumar, G Vivek and Vakiti Srihari at Raj Bhavan at 12.19 pm, bringing the Cabinet strength to 15 out of the sanctioned 18. The portfolios for the new ministers are yet to be announced.
Laxman belongs to the SC-Madiga community, Vivek to the SC-Mala group, and Srihari to the BC-Mudiraj community. These appointments indicate that the Congress prioritised social representation and did not yield to political pressure.
The move particularly the induction of two ministers from the Scheduled Castes surprised many after earlier signals that the remaining six slots might go to aspirants from the BC, SC, ST, minority and Reddy communities. The inclusion of both Mala and Madiga representatives comes soon after Telangana became the first state in the country to pass legislation for sub-categorisation of Scheduled Castes.
Party sources said that appointing only one SC minister would have disrupted the internal caste balance. Before this expansion, the Cabinet already had Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka from the Mala community and Damodar Rajanarasimha from the Madigas. Adding only Vivek would have tilted the balance and the party wanted to maintain parity.
Lambada leader is new deputy speaker
Srihari’s appointment also holds significance, as the Mudiraj community, one of the largest BC groups, has long sought representation. His appointment is seen as a recognition of the numerical strength of this group ahead of local body elections.
However, the expansion left out the ST-Lambada and Muslim communities and did not include representation from key districts such as Hyderabad, Rangareddy and Nizamabad. In a bid to mollify Lambada demands, the government elevated Jatoth Ram Chander Naik — previously a whip — to the post of deputy speaker.
Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy made an announcement on X, stating: “New ministers are about to take charge — Vivek Venkataswamy, Adluri Laxman, and Vakiti Srihari. I congratulate them. I also extend my congratulations to Ram Chander Naik, who is about to assume charge as the Assembly deputy speaker.”
Still, discontent is brewing among Reddy aspirants. At least two senior leaders from the community reportedly switched off their phones on Sunday, signalling their dissatisfaction. AICC state in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan reportedly met them personally and assured them that their concerns would be addressed in the next phase of expansion.
With local body elections on the horizon, the decision to leave three berths vacant is widely viewed as a calculated move to keep hopes alive among top contenders like Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, P Sudharshan Reddy, Malreddy Ranga Reddy and K Premsagar Rao.
