Hyderabad: The Congress government is set to fast-track the distribution of nominated posts before taking local body elections head-on, with a clear deadline from AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge to complete the exercise by this month’s end.
Party sources said Chief Minister Revanth Reddy has been asked to finalise the list for nominated posts, including those in corporations and market committees, to accommodate second-rung leaders who have been waiting for nearly 18 months. Kharge is reported to have personally directed the PCC chief to take charge of the process, setting the stage for appointments before local polls expected in August.
Revanth, who earlier filled 38 corporation chairman posts, now plans to distribute the remaining positions along with market committee directors and temple committees, which could place around 100 leaders in posts. Aspirants left out of the cabinet may get key corporation chairmanships carrying cabinet rank.
Kharge is said to have told six disappointed ministerial hopefuls, including Premsagar Rao, Mallareddy Rangareddy, Rammohan Reddy, Balu Nayak, Adi Srinivas, and Sudarshan Reddy, that they will instead be offered nominated roles. Positions like government chief whip, RTC chairman, and Future City Corporation have been floated as alternatives to calm discontent.
Officials indicated the cabinet itself may be expanded after the Ashadam month ends in mid-July, choosing an auspicious date in Sravana to fill three remaining ministerial berths before entering the local polls in August.
Party insiders say lobbying for posts is intense, with leaders keen to secure a role before the local body elections mandated to conclude by September under a High Court order. Whether this distribution wraps up by month-end or drags on is still an open question, with the party rank and file watching closely.