Cabinet reshuffle before Dasara likely

Speculations of two to three Ministers being dropped from the Cabinet and new female faces being inducted are doing the rounds, especially in TRS circles

Hyderabad: Speculations are flying thick and fast following Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao’s announcement on Tuesday that the nominated posts would be filled by Dasara festival (October 22).

Guesswork is fast gaining momentum, particularly in the ruling TRS party circles, on the possibility of the State Cabinet being reshuffled before the festival.

It may be mentioned that the State Cabinet reshuffle is on the cards for quite some time now, and speculation was rife over inducting two to three new faces in the Council of Ministers and also dropping of an equal number of Ministers.

It is a known fact that the Chief Minister is keen on inducting one or two women in the Cabinet, as there is no representation for women in it as of now, and it has become a point of criticism from many quarters, particularly the Opposition parties.

Also, the Chief Minister himself earlier made a public announcement that K Eshwar, MLA, would be made a Minister. In addition to these, Chandrashekar Rao might go in for one or two new faces in the Cabinet, it is said.

If the Chief Minister really goes for new inductions, it will become necessary for him to drop two or three Ministers from the existing Cabinet. This is essential because the number of Ministers cannot exceed the present strength, according to the rules.

Rumour mills are busy churning out stories linking the Chief Minister’s plan to include women faces in the Cabinet to the delay of the process.

The Chief Minister is reportedly finding it difficult to decide whom to drop, as it might cause heartburn to those who are at the receiving end of his decision.

It is also said that Chandrashekar Rao would be assessing the performance of the Ministers and the ruling party MLAs during the present Assembly session to enable him to take decisions on inducting new faces and dropping the existing Ministers.

Party leaders, however, believe that Chandrashekar Rao would affect the reshuffle before Dasara, in all probability.