The date has been decided for expanding the Telangana Cabinet after the AICC gave the green signal, it is learnt.
Sources said the Cabinet expansion will be carried out on April 3 most probably. However, neither the Telangana Congress unit nor the AICC are revealing the names of MLAs and MLCs who got a Cabinet berth.
However, there are speculations that the AICC gave the green signal for appointing four Ministers. No one has confirmed this. Another group of leaders have been saying that the AICC gave the green signal to appoint six ministers.
Meanwhile, the names of Chennur MLA Gaddam Vivek and Makthal MLA Vakiti Srihari have been finalised. No one is confirming the remaining names. However, the names of Rajagopal Reddy, Sudarshan Reddy and Adi Srinivas were doing the rounds for two minister posts. It is not known whether the party will give the sixth minister post to STs or minorities or women.
One Congress leader on condition of anonymity, said the AICC is going to give a shock to speculators and is going to throw a surprise regarding names. However, TPCC Chief Mahesh Kumar Goud said after the meeting with the high command on Monday that all matters will be concluded soon.
“We have explained everything, including development and welfare issues, to the high command in detail. The high command will decide on all matters soon,” he said without revealing details.
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, TPCC Chief B. Mahesh Kumar Goud, and AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan met the high command and discussed the cabinet expansion on Monday.
Deputy CM reached Hyderabad early morning on Tuesday. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy and TPCC Chief Mahesh Kumar Goud reached Hyderabad only in the evening.
‘Confident of Cabinet berth’
The Congress’s Munugode MLA, Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy, who is in the race for a minister post, exuded confidence that he would get a minister post. Raj Gopal said that he hasn’t got a phone call so far but likes the Home Ministry.
Addressing journalists on Tuesday at the Assembly Media Point, Raj Gopal said,
“The selection of candidates for minister posts should be held based on capability. I discharged my responsibility during the LS polls in Bhongir efficiently. I like the Home Ministry. However, I will do whatever the high command asks me to do. I will stand by the people. Discussions on Cabinet expansion might be going on seriously in New Delhi.”
It may be recalled that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Malli Bhatti Vikramarka, Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, TPCC Chief B. Mahesh Kumar Goud and the AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan had talks with the high command on cabinet expansion on Monday. Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka came to Hyderabad. However, the CM, the TPCC Chief and the Irrigation Minister did not come till evening.
Meanwhile, Congress MLC T. Jeevan Reddy said that unhappiness is likely for anyone if they do not get a post. “At present, I am also unhappy.”
