Hyderabad
May 25: Thirty-five ministers were inducted into the state cabinet on Monday at Raj Bhavan. Fourteen of these are from the previous cabinet of the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy, who dropped four of his colleagues: Mr Jana Reddy, Mr J.C. Diwakar Reddy, Mr R. Damodar Reddy and Mr Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy.
Portfolios to the newly-inducted ministers will be allocated on Tuesday. The new cabinet includes six women ministers. Of them, Ms Gita Reddy, Ms Sabita Indra Reddy and Ms Galla Aruna Kumari from the previous team while Ms Sunita Laxma Reddy, Ms D.K. Aruna and Ms Konda Surekha are new ministers. Five of the six women ministers are from Telangana.
The dropping of the four ministers came as a surprise, but it was the effect of the Chief Minister, who was again given a free hand to select his cabinet, sending a strong message to legislators. Sources close to Dr Reddy indicated that Mr Jana Reddy and Mr Diwakar Reddy lost their jobs for “anti-party activities” in the recent elections.
Both of them denied the allegation. Mr Jana Reddy said it was the Chief Minister’s prerogative to pick his team. Mr Diwakar Reddy said he would ask the Chief Minister “what sin he had committed and why he was denied a ministerial berth.” He could meet the Chief Minister on his second attempt.
According to sources, Mr Diwakar Reddy who was re-elected for a sixth term, was responsible of helping Opposition candidates.
Selected: The lucky 35
* Danam Nagender
Congress strong man and close follower of the Chief Minister who made it to the cabinet for the first time. Elected from Khairatabad seat. He represented Asif Nagar in 1994, 1999 and 2004.
* Gade Venkata Reddy
Staunch supporter of united AP. Elected from Bapatla segment in Guntur district. Contested 11 times for Assembly and won five times. He has been in politics for the last 40 years. Was first elected in 1967.
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