Telangana Congress leadership moves to calm disappointed MLAs after cabinet expansion
Hyderabad: Trying to calm the storm brewing within its own ranks, the Telangana Congress on Sunday kicked off a damage-control mission to soothe ruffled feathers among MLAs left out of the latest cabinet expansion. The effort came just hours after three new ministers were sworn in at the Raj Bhavan.
The exclusion of key figures – Sudarshan Reddy, Premsagar Rao, Malreddy Ranga Reddy, and Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy – sparked immediate disappointment, prompting the state leadership to step in fast. Sources said AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan and PCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud personally reached out to Malreddy Ranga Reddy by phone to ease the growing discontent. Malreddy, who had threatened to go public with his grievances at a press conference, called it off after the call.
Until late Saturday night, Sudarshan Reddy’s name was buzzing in party circles as a near-certain pick for the cabinet. His name, along with a couple of others, had gained serious traction among the power brokers. But when the final list emerged, Sudarshan Reddy’s omission hit him hard.
Sensing trouble, Natarajan – joined by Chief Minister’s Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, PCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud, Minister Ponnam Prabhakar, and Rajya Sabha MP Anil Kumar Yadav – rushed to Sudarshan Reddy’s residence in Jubilee Hills on Sunday evening. Party sources said Natarajan explained the cabinet choices, highlighting the need for regional and community balance. The leaders reportedly assured Sudarshan Reddy that his contribution to the party was highly valued and that his concerns would be taken up seriously.
After that, the team made their way to Begumpet to meet Premsagar Rao, another MLA left out of the cabinet reshuffle. The Congress brass seems determined to keep party unity intact during this critical time.
Insiders acknowledged that cabinet expansions always bring headaches, but emphasised that the leadership is fully committed to hearing out disappointed MLAs and keeping the party machine running smoothly as the state heads into a crucial phase.