Bowing to pressure, the Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, on Thursday appointed a record number of five Government Whips in the Assembly in addition to the Chief Government Whip besides appointing a Whip in the Legislative Council.

As reported in these columns, the Bhupalapally MLA, Mr Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy, was appointed as Chief Whip in the Assembly. The new Government Whips are the Visakhapatnam South MLA, Mr Dronamraju Srinivas, Machilipatnam MLA, Mr Perni Venkataramaiah (alias Nani), Sangareddy MLA Mr Turpu Jayaprakash Reddy, Balconda MLA Mr E. Anil Kumar, Manakondur MLA Mr Arepally Mohan.

The Government Chief Whip and Whip posts were lying vacant following elevation of Mr Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, Dr S. Sailajanath and Kondru Murali as Deputy Speaker and ministers. All the Government Whips enjoy a Cabinet minister rank with regard to protocol.

There was never an occasion when six Government Whips were appointed by the ruling establishment.