Few voices of dissent after Andhra cabinet formation

HYDERABAD - A few legislators of the ruling Congress appear to be unhappy with Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy for not inducting them into his cabinet but only one of them has made his unhappiness public.

K. Rambhupal Reddy, a legislator from Kurnool district, has alleged that only those who indulge in appeasement were included in the cabinet. “The chief minister should clarify why I have not been included,” he told reporters and declared he would bring this “injustice” to the knowledge of party’s central leadership.

Senior leader and J.C. Diwakar Reddy, who was the panchayati raj minister in Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy’s cabinet 2004-09, was also disappointed over not being inducted. “I don’t know the reasons. You should ask the chief minister. One or two MLAs from my district (Anantapur) may have complained against me,” he said.

Diwakar Reddy, however, said he was not unhappy over being left out. “I was happy yesterday and I am happy today,” he said with a smile, even as supporters standing around him wore a grim look.

Another senior leader, Gade Venkat Reddy, who has been dropped by Kiran Kumar Reddy, said it was the prerogative of the chief minister to choose his team.

R. Damodar Reddy, a former minister from Telangana, too appeared unhappy over being left out. He said all the ministers from Telangana should resign if the Srikrishna Committee report was not in favour of separate statehood for the region.

Of the 39 ministers who took oath Wednesday, 16 are from Telangana.

“They will have to resign if the report is not favourable and join the movement for formation of a Telangana state,” said Damodar Reddy, one of the key Congress leaders in the Telangana movement.

While Damodar Reddy was ignored, former minister K. Jana Reddy, who too was in forefront of the movement, was inducted.

The Srikrishna Committee, constituted by the centre to look into the demand for separate Telangana state, is to submit its report by Dec 31.