Andhra Pradesh cabinet survives major rebel trouble

The new government in Andhra Pradesh finally found its feet as the first meeting of the new Cabinet was held without hiccups. The new government had faced a crisis of sorts after the allocation of portfolios with several disgruntled ministers going into a huddle and voicing their dissent.

There was also heartburn over the fact that about 14 ministries had gone to the Reddy community and the SC/ ST and the minority communities were not given enough representation. The activities of the ‘ disgruntled’ ministers reached a zenith in the afternoon as they decided to stay away from the first cabinet meeting, thus creating doubts about the very existence of the government.

However, the party high command intervened immediately and several frantic phone calls were made to dissident ministers. Chief Minister N Kiran’s friends in the cabinet also persuaded the ‘ rebels’ to calm down and attend the meeting.

Finally, the clouds of doubts that had enveloped the new Cabinet cleared and the meeting took place in the evening. However, Tourism Minister V Vasnthakumar, who had resigned from his post, stuck to his guns and stayed away. Later, Vasanthakumar released a letter in which he stated that he would soon meet party president Sonia Gandhi and explain the reasons for his conduct.

It is learnt that initially at least 10 senior ministers had voiced their unhappiness over their portfolios amid indications that they too could quit. A group of ministers and legislators from Telangana was also up in arms, as Kiran Kumar had not named a deputy chief minister despite an announcement by the central leadership. With different lobbies surfacing, pressure will mount on Kiran Kumar to reallocate the portfolios and appoint a deputy chief minister.

P. Ramachandra Reddy, one of the five ministers dropped by Kiran Kumar, has already sounded a bugle of revolt; he told reporters at Tirupati that he would now work against the chief minister. “ I will show him my strength,” he said. Hectic activity has also begun in the camp of S Jaganmohan Reddy, who recently resigned from the Congress. Jagan, the son of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister . S. Rajasekhara Reddy, is expected to soon float a new party.