Telangana Cabinet Expansion: Congress Plans for Future Adjustments
New Ministers Join the Team
G Vivek Venkatswamy, Adluri Laxman Kumar, and Vakiti Srihari
Hyderabad: The recent cabinet expansion welcomed first-time MLAs. Chennur legislator Vivek Venkatswamy, a former MP from Peddapalli (2009-2014), is now in his first term as an MLA.
Laxman Kumar, a seasoned Congress member from Dharmapuri, is also a first-time legislator. He serves as the government chief whip. Srihari, a former Youth Congress leader, won his first election from the Makthal constituency in the 2023 polls.
Planning for the Future
The cabinet can have up to 18 ministers. However, Chief Minister Revanth chose to fill only three of the six vacant positions. This suggests the party is leaving room for future changes. There are ongoing demands from various groups within the Congress.
Intense Lobbying and Internal Pressures
Talks of cabinet expansion had intensified since Saturday. The government and the party remained silent until Sunday morning. The Chief Minister announced the names of the new ministers and the deputy speaker nominee just hours before the swearing-in.
Party insiders reveal that intense lobbying and internal pressures delayed the expansion for months. Initially, it was expected that four of the six vacancies would be filled. At least one seat was reserved for a member from the minority or OC (Other Castes) communities.
Names Under Consideration
Names considered included:
- Former minister and Bodhan MLA P Sudarshan Reddy
- Munugode MLA Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy
- Ibrahimpatnam MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy
- Mancherial MLA K Prem Sagar Rao
- MLC Amer Ali Khan
- Government advisor Mohammed Ali Shabbir
However, none from the OC or minority communities were included in the final decision. This will likely be addressed in a subsequent round of expansion, sources said.
Focus on MLAs
Notably, no member from the legislative council found a place in the cabinet. MLCs like Vijayashanti, Addanki Dayakar, and Amer Ali had lobbied hard for ministerial positions but were left out. The leadership chose to restrict the cabinet to MLAs alone.
The latest expansion shows the Congress party’s attempt to maintain a delicate caste and political balance. It also keeps the door open for future negotiations and adjustments, a senior analyst said.
