Hyderabad: Ending months of political guesswork, the Congress high command has finally approved the long-awaited cabinet expansion in Telangana. Chief Minister Revanth Reddy is set to induct three new ministers on Sunday, bringing fresh faces into the state’s governing team.
At present, the cabinet comprises 12 ministers alongside the chief minister, leaving six seats vacant. This expansion marks the first reshuffle in over 18 months, sparking fresh hope among a flood of aspirants within the party.
Party sources say the build-up to this decision has been intense, with several MLAs, both first-timers and veterans, making repeated trips to New Delhi to plead their case. Since Meenakshi Natarajan took charge as the Congress party’s Telangana in-charge, the number of hopefuls vying for ministerial berths has only grown, with leaders lobbying hard to secure a place at the table.
The Chief Minister, according to reports, has already approached Raj Bhavan to finalise arrangements for Sunday’s swearing-in ceremony. While official confirmation from the Governor’s office is expected shortly, the move has set off a fresh wave of anticipation among party loyalists eager to see which three MLAs will make the cut.
Leaders from the Scheduled Castes and Reddy communities have been particularly vocal about seeking representation, adding to the political jostling in Hyderabad’s corridors of power. During the previous elections, Revanth Reddy had promised to give a cabinet berth to a member of the Mudiraj community, a pledge that has not yet been fulfilled. Minority leaders, too, have been left out of the cabinet so far, fuelling further demands for inclusive representation.
With expectations high, party insiders suggest that the Congress leadership may use this opportunity to accommodate leaders from the BC, SC, and ST communities, aiming to strike a balance that reflects Telangana’s diverse social fabric.
