Thaindian News

Hyderabad, March 17 (IANS) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister K. Rosaiah may undertake the much-awaited expansion of his cabinet early next month.
In an informal chat with reporters here Wednesday, he dropped hints that the exercise might take place April 4.

Sources in ruling Congress party said Rosaiah might induct five to six ministers and give away some key portfolios which he currently holds.

This will be the first expansion after Rosaiah became chief minister following the death of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy in a helicopter crash Sep 2 last year. Through the expansion and possible reshuffle, Rosaiah may try to assert his authority.

The axe may fall on some loyalists of Rajasekhara Reddy’s son and Kadapa MP Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

After YSR’s death, several ministers loyal to his son demanded that he should be made the chief minister. Minister for Women Development and Child Welfare Konda Surekha had even resigned in support of the demand.

The central leadership of the party, however, intervened to reject the demand of loyalists and asked Rosaiah to continue.

YSR had constituted 35-member strong cabinet in May last year after he led the Congress to a second successive term in power.

Rosaiah, a member of the legislative council, is also likely to induct senior Congress leaders from Telangana into the cabinet to pleasse the Telangana camp at a time when the Srikrishna committee formed by the central government is looking into the demand for separate statehood to the region.