Telangana defections stall AP cabinet expansion

​Vijayawada: The AP cabinet expansion proposed by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on November 8 or 9 with‘largesse’ in favour of the YSRCP defectors seems unlikely to happen.

The petition pending disposal in the Supreme Court over the defection of the TDP MLAs to the ruling TRS in Telangana appears to be a roadblock for the Naidu’s cabinet expansion plan to become a reality.

According to information, the Supreme Court set November 8 as the deadline for the TS Assembly Speaker to express his viewpoint over the plea of the petitioner, also Congress MLA from Mahbubnagar district, for disqualification of turncoats.

Even as the matter is pending in the court, one of the defectors Talasani Srinivas Yadav got a plum post in the KCR cabinet in the Telangana government.

The AP CM is understood to tread with caution while entertaining the thought of anointing the YSRCP defectors as ministers so as to avoid embarrassment if the Supreme Court rules against defections in Telangana.

The cabinet expansion, if it takes place as per the schedule, is also expected to put an end to the speculations over the political career of Naidu’s son Lokesh Babu. The TDP ranks have been making a strong case in favour Lokesh’s elevation as a minister.

Meanwhile, sources in the TDP told The Hans India that Naidu is in favour of admitting at least three YSRCP defectors in his Council of Ministers. Probable among them are Jaleel Khan (Vijayawada West) under the minorities quota, Bhuma Nagi Reddy or his daughter from Kurnool district, Jyothula Nehru from East Godavari district and Srujana Ranga Rao from Vizianagaram district. Naidu is expected to accommodate at least three defectors.

When the TDP failed to give a representation to any of the Muslim minorities in 2014 general elections, two minority MLAs from the YSRCP—Jaleel Khan and Attar Chandh Bhasha from Kadiri in Anantapur district-- defected to the ruling party after the elections. Of course, the TDP has Sharif in the AP Legislative Council. If Naidu is particular about inducting any elected Muslim minorities’ leader, selection of any of the two defectors becomes inevitable.

Naidu is said to be keen on using Jyothula Nehru, a prominent Kapu leader from Jaggampet Assembly segment in East Godavari district as an antidote for the Mudragada factor in Kapu politics. It may be recalled that Padmanabham is giving anxious moments to the TD government on the issue of quota for Kapus.

Incidentally, the Kapu ministers said to be not up to the CM expectations in countering Mudragada. Tipping the Bhuma family for a cabinet birth is expected to help change caste and political equations against the YSRCP chief Jaganmohan Reddy in the Reddy-dominated Rayalaseema region.

The maximum cabinet size fixed in proportion to the number of Assembly seats in AP is at 26. But Naidu inducted 20 ministers during his swearing-in ceremony on June 8, 2014, leaving six posts vacant.

Naidu is handling as many as 10 assignments, including the key subjects of energy, industry, investments and infrastructure. Information and Public Relations Minister Palle Raghunadha Reddy from the Hindu religion is holding the minorities portfolio.

Social Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu looks after the tribal welfare also while Siddha Raghava Rao is managing both Roads and Buildings and Transport departments.

The prospects of the deferment of cabinet expansion cause unrest in the ruling party. Naidu has been keeping his party aspirants guessing over their future in the last 18 months or so as is his usual wont.

“We thought the expansion would take place six months after the swearing-in. Eighteen months on and expansion becomes still a mirage”, commented an aspirant from Nellore district.