While it was said that all three candidates inducted in the Cabinet would be from Telangana, to replace the leaders from the region — Mr Koma-tireddy Venkat Reddy, Mr Jupally Krishna Rao and Dr P. Shanker Rao — only two names from Telang-ana were cleared by the party Central leadership. With the induction of the two legislators from Telangana, the representation of the region went up to 15 and that of Coastal Andhra to 17 and Rayalaseema 9.

In view of the recent incidents of desecration of Ambedkar statues in coastal Andhra and the predominance of the Mala sub-caste — considered to be a large vote bank for the Congress —the CM, after consulting the leadership, decided to induct Mr Murali, the government Whip in the Assembly, to appease those sections. In fact, Mr Mohan came to know about his elevation as minister only after landing here from New Delhi.

While Deputy Speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikrama-rka’s name was apparently finalised last night, Mr Prasad Kumar, who is a cousin of Dr Shanker Rao and grandson of veteran leader G. Venkata Swamy, got the second vacancy. According to sources, the party central leadership had conveyed to the Chief Minister that if Mr Mallu Bhatti was made a minister, it would lead to an election for the Deputy Speaker’s post in the Budget Session.

Mr Kista Reddy, senior MLA from Narayankhed could not be considered for the Deputy Speaker's post since he is senior to Speaker N. Manohar. Also, Mr Kondru Murali could not be nominated for the Deputy Speaker's post as he belonged to the Coastal Andhra region and the Speaker too hails from there.