HYDERABAD: TRS supremo and Telangana chief minister-elect K Chandrasekhar Rao, who returned to the city from New Delhi on Tuesday evening, is expected to spend the next couple of days striking a balance in the caste composition of his cabinet, considered the toughest assignment of a CM-to-be.
The simple majority achieved by the pink party among all castes with numerical strength in the region has led the castes to expect their concerns addressed. While some castes are pressing for due representation in the inaugural cabinet of the 29th state, some like SCs and Muslims are expecting special status as publicly promised by KCR.
According to party sources, the tricky part of the cabinet formation will be to accommodate Reddys and Velamas in the cabinet, both dominantly represented by TRS MLAs. While the Velamas, as the ruling community, may expect at least four or five berths, Reddys, the single biggest community in the TRS Legislature Party, are likely to demand equal status in the cabinet. Sources admit
KCR cannot afford to give short shrift to the Reddys, who are also an influential community, both muscle wise and money wise.
KCR himself promised cabinet berths to many candidates during his campaign. In a press conference organized on the day Konda Surekha joined the TRS, KCR announced that the Warangal MLA would be given a cabinet berth. Similarly, he assured T-employees' leaders Swami Goud and Srinivas Goud, berths in the cabinet. Significantly, he promised the post of deputy chief minister to a Muslim. To please the SCs, he had promised the post of the chief minister but eventually kept it for himself. The TRS chief has to therefore offer at least the post of deputy chief minister to the SCs. Also, there are other influential BC groups like the Munnur Kapus, Yadavas and women who need to be accommodated in the cabinet.
"How KCR strikes the balance among these castes and groups is being watched closely. As the constitution puts the cap on the size of the cabinet at 17, he has to bear in mind factors such as seniority, districts, castes, religions and gender. It is not an easy task," a senior leader in the party told TOI. Among the Velamas, sources said, there are at least five important leaders to be accommodated in the cabinet besides KCR. "T Harish Rao, who won with the highest majority from Siddipet, cannot be ignored. Similarly, Taraka Rama Rao is very important to the party. Likewise, Jupalli Krishna Rao, who quit the Congress cabinet to join the TRS, has to be taken. Jalagam Venkata Rao, though a new entrant, has to be accommodated as he is the lone TRS representative from Khammam district. Lastly, Chennamaneni Ramesh, seen as an intellectual has to be fitted in as well," the sources said.
If Velamas get four to five berths, the Reddys would also demand an equal number of berths as they are the biggest caste group in the party, sources added. Padma Devender Reddy, Sunitha Mahender Reddy, G Jagadeswar Reddy, Mahender Reddy, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Enugu Ravinder Reddy, and Lakshma Reddy cannot be ignored because of their seniority. Another senior Reddy who should get a cabinet berth is Nayani Narasimha Reddy. Though Nayani did not contest the election, he is likely to be inducted into the cabinet and later made MLC, as he is the senior most leader of the party, according to many partymen.
Among the BCs, Etela Rajender, Madhusudanachari, Padma Rao, Anjaiah Yadav, Konda Surekha, Srinivas Goud, Swami Goud (MLC), Jogu Ramanna, Gampa Goverdhan, Gangula Kamalakar and Bajireddy Goverdhan Reddy are expecting cabinet berths given their seniority in the party or role in the elections.
KCR also has to consider senior tribal leader Azmeera Chandula, who got elected from Mulug, as his election has raised the expectations of the tribal population in the state. Among the dalit MLAs seeking a berth in the cabinet are Babu Mohan, who defeated former deputy CM
C Damodara Rajanarasimha, and S Rajaiah of Station Ghanpur.
The simple majority achieved by the pink party among all castes with numerical strength in the region has led the castes to expect their concerns addressed. While some castes are pressing for due representation in the inaugural cabinet of the 29th state, some like SCs and Muslims are expecting special status as publicly promised by KCR.
According to party sources, the tricky part of the cabinet formation will be to accommodate Reddys and Velamas in the cabinet, both dominantly represented by TRS MLAs. While the Velamas, as the ruling community, may expect at least four or five berths, Reddys, the single biggest community in the TRS Legislature Party, are likely to demand equal status in the cabinet. Sources admit
KCR cannot afford to give short shrift to the Reddys, who are also an influential community, both muscle wise and money wise.
KCR himself promised cabinet berths to many candidates during his campaign. In a press conference organized on the day Konda Surekha joined the TRS, KCR announced that the Warangal MLA would be given a cabinet berth. Similarly, he assured T-employees' leaders Swami Goud and Srinivas Goud, berths in the cabinet. Significantly, he promised the post of deputy chief minister to a Muslim. To please the SCs, he had promised the post of the chief minister but eventually kept it for himself. The TRS chief has to therefore offer at least the post of deputy chief minister to the SCs. Also, there are other influential BC groups like the Munnur Kapus, Yadavas and women who need to be accommodated in the cabinet.
"How KCR strikes the balance among these castes and groups is being watched closely. As the constitution puts the cap on the size of the cabinet at 17, he has to bear in mind factors such as seniority, districts, castes, religions and gender. It is not an easy task," a senior leader in the party told TOI. Among the Velamas, sources said, there are at least five important leaders to be accommodated in the cabinet besides KCR. "T Harish Rao, who won with the highest majority from Siddipet, cannot be ignored. Similarly, Taraka Rama Rao is very important to the party. Likewise, Jupalli Krishna Rao, who quit the Congress cabinet to join the TRS, has to be taken. Jalagam Venkata Rao, though a new entrant, has to be accommodated as he is the lone TRS representative from Khammam district. Lastly, Chennamaneni Ramesh, seen as an intellectual has to be fitted in as well," the sources said.
If Velamas get four to five berths, the Reddys would also demand an equal number of berths as they are the biggest caste group in the party, sources added. Padma Devender Reddy, Sunitha Mahender Reddy, G Jagadeswar Reddy, Mahender Reddy, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Enugu Ravinder Reddy, and Lakshma Reddy cannot be ignored because of their seniority. Another senior Reddy who should get a cabinet berth is Nayani Narasimha Reddy. Though Nayani did not contest the election, he is likely to be inducted into the cabinet and later made MLC, as he is the senior most leader of the party, according to many partymen.
Among the BCs, Etela Rajender, Madhusudanachari, Padma Rao, Anjaiah Yadav, Konda Surekha, Srinivas Goud, Swami Goud (MLC), Jogu Ramanna, Gampa Goverdhan, Gangula Kamalakar and Bajireddy Goverdhan Reddy are expecting cabinet berths given their seniority in the party or role in the elections.
KCR also has to consider senior tribal leader Azmeera Chandula, who got elected from Mulug, as his election has raised the expectations of the tribal population in the state. Among the dalit MLAs seeking a berth in the cabinet are Babu Mohan, who defeated former deputy CM
C Damodara Rajanarasimha, and S Rajaiah of Station Ghanpur.
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