TRS counts days amid berth pangs

Fresh dates are in circulation in TRS circles for the Cabinet expansion, which did not take place on Friday as expected.

TRS legislators were sure Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao would expand the Cabinet on Friday. The latest buzz in TRS circles is that the Cabinet expansion will take place on February 3 or 6.

The Assembly’s Budget Session is likely to start in the second week of February and Mr Rao is likely to expand the Cabinet before that.

Those whose names were being considered for Assembly Speaker’s post heaved a sigh of relief after the post went to Mr Pocharam Srinivas Reddy.

Others whose names were being speculated upon included Mr Etala Rajendar, Ms Padma Devender Reddy, Mr A. Indrakaran Reddy and Mr D. S. Redya Naik. Many consider the post as jinxed because MLAs who became Speakers lose the next election.

Now the MLAs are awaiting their turn to get a cabinet post. With Mr Srinivas Reddy becoming the Assembly Speaker, the road is clear for Balkonda MLA Vemula Prashant Reddy to get a Cabinet post.

Mr Rajendar is likely to get a Cabinet berth. Mr Rao wants to give representation to old districts in the Cabinet expansion. That means he might induct eight more ministers into the Cabinet.

Mr Rao himself represents Medak district, as does Ms Padma Devender Reddy who is aspiring for a Cabinet post.

The TRS has two separate sets of rules for the defectors, said CPI state secretary Chada Venkat Reddy. He said that the party was encouraging defections.

He said, “The TRS is misusing the power. If MLCs of other parties join the TRS, there will be no action against them. But, if any of their MLCs joined the Congress, we can see how quick the action is taken against the person.”