HYDERABAD: The Congress high command has resumed deliberations on the much-awaited expansion of the Telangana Cabinet which has six vacant berths.
Sources disclosed that the Cabinet expansion is likely to take place soon, possibly coinciding with the Telugu New Year, Ugadi.
AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi and AICC general secretary in-charge KC Venugopal on Monday held a two-hour meeting to discuss the merits of aspirants with the TPCC top brass.
Those invited to the AICC headquarters in Delhi to attend the meeting included Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Irrigation Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy, TPCC chief B Mahesh Kumar Goud and AICC Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan.
Those in the know revealed that the high command sought opinions from the TPCC leadership on each aspirant and would take a final decision shortly. Sources also stated that those chosen are likely to be informed on the day of the oath-taking ceremony.
During the meeting, Rahul Gandhi and Kharge enquired about the implementation of the six guarantees - welfare schemes promised during the 2023 Assembly elections - development activities, the caste surveys, the passage of Bills to enhance BC reservations to 42%, the Young India Integrated Schools initiative, and the appointment of TPCC executive committees.
Requesting anonymity, a senior leader told TNIE that the high command reviewed the merits of each candidate and would decide soon. He indicated that the Cabinet expansion is likely by Ugadi.
He stated that the party was committed to ensuring social justice in the Cabinet rejig and TPCC executive committee appointments.
No clarity on filling berths
However, there is still no clarity on the number of vacant berths that would be filled.
If the AICC decides to fill four out of six vacancies, as is likely, MLAs from SC, ST, BC and Reddy communities are likely to be included. If all six vacancies are filled, a Muslim candidate and another Reddy or Velama may also be accommodated, the source indicated.
Among the top contenders are Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, P Sudharshan Reddy, Kokkirala Premsagar Rao (Velama), Malreddy Ranga Reddy, G Vivek Venkatswamy (SC), Narayanan Sri Ganesh (SC), Vakiti Srihari (BC), Vijayashanti (BC), N Balu Naik (ST), K Madan Mohan Rao (Velama), Thota Laxmi Kantha Rao (SC), Aadi Srinivas (BC), Murali Naik Bhukya (ST), and Amer Ali Khan (Muslim). With the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) elections approaching, an MLA or MLC from the Hyderabad region may be elevated to the Cabinet.
At present, the Revanth Reddy Cabinet includes four ministers from the Reddy community, two from SC, two from BC and one each from Brahmin, Kamma, Velama and ST communities.
Sources said that the party aims to balance caste representation in both Cabinet positions and TPCC ranks. Communities that are not accommodated in the Cabinet may be included in the TPCC executive committee.