Rejig on the cards in Jagan cabinet: Backward classes to get berths

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy plans to expand his cabinet by inducting two ministers from backward classes on Wednesday. Pili Subhash Chandra Bose and Mopidevi Venkata Ramana will be inducted at a simple ceremony in Raj Bhavan where Governor Biswabhusan Harichandan will administer the oath of office.

As per sources, Ch. Srinivasa Venugopala Krishna, YSR Congress MLA representing Ramachandrapuram, and another MLA from Palasa, Seediri Appalaraju, are to be inducted as ministers.

Venugopala Krishna belongs to the dominant Settibalija community in East Godavari, while Appalaraju, a doctor, belongs to the fishermen community.

Reddy had announced at the time of taking oath as the CM that there would be a cabinet reshuffle based on performance after two and a half years.

This reshuffle in the 14th month of his tenure as the state CM won’t see any names being dropped from the cabinet. A few disappointments were also seen; Speaker Tammineni Seetharam, for instance, tried his best to get a cabinet seat but was unsuccessful.

In Jagan’s cabinet half of the ministerial berths are already filled with leaders hailing from backward and Scheduled Caste communities.

 Recently, the CM has given an opportunity to an SC leader, Pandula Ravindra Babu, and a woman, Kakiya Khanum, from minority community to get nominated as Member of Legislative Council from the Governor’s quota.