State cabinet expansion by month end

In order to form his own team, the Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is preparing for a major reshuffle in his cabinet. According to sources, the cabinet expansion may take place by this month end.

Three to four ministers might be dropped and MLAs belonging to erstwhile Praja Rajyam Party might be accommodated. Kiran Kumar Reddy is expected to call upon Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday to get her nod the cabinet expansion. Sources say that the Chief Minister has been vexed with the frequent threats from the legislators sympathetic to Kadapa MP Jagan Mohan Reddy. Therefore, he is planning to lure some of them by offering cabinet berth while weeding out the rest.

According to sources, Home Minister P Sabitha Indira Reddy, who as mines minister under former Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy occupied centre stage along with then mines secretary Y Sreelaxmi for release of a controversial GO 151 which avoided 'captive mining' noting while YSR approved the said noting in the file. With the CBI arresting mining baron Gali Janardhan Reddy, Sabitha may have to pay for it by losing her place from the cabinet permanently.

Minister Komatireddy Ventakatareddy is said to be on the way out since he distanced himself from the cabinet under the pretext of Telangana problem. One time irrigation minister Ponnala Laxmiah too stands in the list for his alleged involvement in irregularities in the Jalayagnam works and illegal sanctions to companies associated with the Jagan Mohan Reddy.

APCC president Botsa Satyanarayana too may not be able to retain his ministry. Following party's policy of 'one man, one post', Botsa might be asked to restrict himself to the party affairs. However, some seniors including Kanna Laxminarayana, Vatti Vasanthakumar, Danam Nagender and Dharmana Prasada Rao were hoping to bag important portfolios in the revised situation. 

Four of Chiranjeevi's legislators Vanga Geetha, Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Kanna Babu and Anil are said to be in the race for ministry. C Ramachandriah's chances of inclusion into the ministry are weak as a few Congress veterans from the Kadapa are opposed to his candidature. Instead, Veerasiva Reddy might be given a chance in order to check Jagan Mohan Reddy.

After getting the initial nod, the Chief Minister is likely to prepare the new list of his team by next week.