Kiran won Delhi's confidence again
Hyderabad: Chief Minister Kiran Kumar Reddy seems to have achieved his objective partially and got a green signal for induction of three or four ministers in the Cabinet.
The chief minister was bent upon getting approval of the high command and stayed back in the Capital for the second day for a second meeting with the Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
Informed sources say that the chief minister was planning to take three MLAs from Telangana. There are four vacancies from the region
on account of resignations of Konda Surekha, Jupalli Krishna Rao and Komatireddy Venkata Reddy and sacking of P Shankar Rao.
The name of Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has reportedly come up for discussion to fill the vacancy caused by the exit of Shankar
Rao, a Dalit minister.
However, Prasada Kumar, another Dalit leader and Vikarabad MLA, who happens to be related to former Central minister G Venkataswamy(Kaka), is also being considered.
The argument in favour of Prasad is that since P Shankar Rao is from Kaka's family, inducting Prasad would pacify the octogenarian leader and his enterprising son Vivek, MP, who has been in the forefront of Telangana movement.
Appointment of Tantia Kumari, as one of the State Information Commissioner, who is related to Bhatti and the aspiration of his elder brother Mallu Ravi for a Rajya Sabha seat are likely to come in the way of the deputy Speaker shifting to the Cabinet.
But Bhatti is close to the chief minister and he has been actively collaborating with DK Aruna in checkmating Jupalli. He might make it.
Kiran Kumar Reddy would like to take Uttam Kumar Reddy into the Cabinet. Besides being the chief minister's friend, Uttam was in Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi during the tenure of Shankar Dayal Sharma and was known to Rajiv Gandhi and Sonia.
The person between Uttam and the ministerial berth is none other than Ramreddy Damodar Reddy, a former minister and a leader of
Telangana movement who swore at Gun Park during Sakala Janula Samme to fell the Kiran Kumar Reddy government.
He was reportedly promised a place in the Cabinet and he has, ever since, become inactive in the movement. One factor going against
Damodar is his elder brother Ramireddy Venkata Reddy who is already in the Cabinet.
If the chief minister goes back on his promise we can expect Damodar to spit fire and brimstone for some time. Gandra Venkataramana Reddy is another MLA who is understood to have got an assurance from the chief minister.
He is non-controversial and generally close to the chief ministers. He has been keeping a low profile during the Telangana movement speaking carefully about the sentiment and maintaining good relations with the people in power.
He has no competitor from Warangal district. The chief minister would like to drop DL Ravindra Reddy if possible.
He has given an impression to his close aides that he wants to take into his Cabinet either JC Diwakar Reddy, former minster and a senior leader, or Veerasivareddy, a b'te noire of Jaganmohan Reddy, president of YSR Congress Party.
There is pressure on the chief minister to take away the portfolio of Home affairs from Sabita Indra Reddy and give it to the Deputy Chief
Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha.
Since the Budget Session of the Assembly is due to start on the 13th, the changes in portfolios may not be on the cards for now.
News Posted: 6 February, 2012
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