Dharmana, Sabita exit: Race begins for Cabinet berths
HYDERABAD: With the door being shown to home minister P Sabitha Indra Reddy and roads and buildings minister Dharmana Prasada Rao, the race for those two portfolios has intensified in the Congress.
Apart from some ministers, party seniors who are expecting a berth in the Cabinet, are throwing in their hats. Former PCC chief D Srinivas, deputy chief minister C Damodara Rajanarasimha and ministers J Geeta Reddy, D Sridhar Babu and K Jana Reddy are said to be vying with one another to get the home portfolio, with Rajanarasimha doing intense lobbying. It is no secret that he nurtures the ambition of replacing Sabitha.
On several occasions before, Rajanarasimha had insisted on running the home department, in tune with the tradition of deputy chief minister holding the important portfolio.
However, sources said the chief minister is not willing to allot the home portfolio to Rajanarasimha as he fears that his deputy would become another power centre in the government. Kiran Reddy is said to be preferring either DK Aruna, V Sunitha Lakshma Reddy or Sridhar Babu, as they do not pose a threat to him.
Some ministers who are not happy with their portfolios have started exerting pressure on Kiran Reddy to give them better ministries during reshuffle.
Since crucial portfolios like power and commercial taxes are with the chief minister and the excise minister's post is also vacant after the resignation of Mopidevi Venkataramana Rao, who is in prison now, several aspirants, who are expecting a berth in the much-awaited overhaul of the Cabinet, stepped up their efforts to get plum posts.
Among them, prominent are former minister Shabbir Ali, deputy speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, MLC Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, chief whip Gandra Venkataramana Reddy and whip T Jayaprakash Reddy.
Also in the ministerial race are JC Diwakar Reddy, Gade Venkata Reddy, Paladugu Venkata Rao, Cheraku Mutyam Reddy and G Veerasiva Reddy. Veerasiva Reddy called on the chief minister on Sunday to persuade him to accommodate in the Cabinet.
News Posted: 21 May, 2013
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