Revanth Cabinet Rejig: Konda Surekha Likely to be Dropped

The reshuffle will be held on September 3 or 4, subject to the decision of the high command which, according to highly placed sources, has been insisting on the inclusion of Munugodu Congress legislator Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy in the Cabinet. Government Whip Adi Srinivas, hailing also from Munnur Kapu community, has better chances of replacing Surekha. Speaker Gaddam Prasada Rao has also been strongly lobbying for a Cabinet berth.
The party central leadership will have a final round of discussions with crucial members of the political affairs committee — Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, irrigation minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy and PCC president B. Mahesh Kumar Goud — in Delhi either on Tuesday or Wednesday before taking its decision.
Contrary to the general perception in political circles that the Deputy CM had met AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge in Bengaluru a few days ago to lobby for the retention of Surekha in the Cabinet, sources said Bhatti who had earlier gone to her rescue had given up this time. “Indeed, he also expressed his opinion that inaction even after the outburst of minister’s daughter would weaken the Chief Minister and impact the overall image of the party,” sources told Deccan Chronicle.
With regard to Raj Gopal Reddy, the high command was keen on fulfilling the promise made to him when he switched over to the Congress from the BJP along with G. Vivek, who has already been inducted into the Cabinet in the previous rejig. Sources said the Chief Minister who was more in favour of Raj Gopal Reddy’s elder brother and R&B minister Venkat Reddy, warned of serious repercussions when the high command sought to know if both could be in the Cabinet. If Raj Gopal Reddy has his way, his brother would be dropped, sources added.
The Chief Minister was of the view that inclusion of one more minister from the Reddy community from Rangareddy district would dilute the BC/SC empowerment slogan of the government and hence would not consider the requests of either Malreddy Ranga Reddy or T. Rammohan Reddy. Though Speaker Gaddam Prasada Rao was insisting on the berth, he may be asked to continue as it would be difficult to find a suitable replacement that fulfills the equations.
Sources also said there might not be reshuffle of portfolios though at one stage it was rumoured that the revenue and finance portfolios would be re-allocated in the backdrop of recent controversies surrounding the incumbent ministers. “Unhappy over the present portfolio, a senior minister eyed the revenue portfolio but the Chief Minister is no mood to concede his demand. The portfolios of dropped ministers might be allocated to the newly inducted ones,” sources added.