Konidela Nagababu is one of the most important leaders in the Jana Sena Party. He is the elder brother of party chief and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and also serves as the party’s general secretary.
Around a year ago, the TDP had officially announced that Nagababu would be inducted into the Cabinet. Since then, there had been strong speculation that he could get a ministerial berth at any time.
More importantly, one Cabinet post was still vacant, and Jana Sena leaders were hopeful that it would eventually go to Nagababu.
Later, Nagababu was elected as an MLC. Even that process became politically interesting.
At one stage, a pro-TDP newspaper reported that Nagababu could be appointed chairman of a government body. Jana Sena circles reportedly suspected that the story had been planted by senior TDP leaders.
Soon after, Jana Sena officially announced that Nagababu would file his nomination for the MLC post and asked people not to believe false reports.
As Pawan Kalyan wanted, Nagababu became an MLC and is now representing Jana Sena in the Legislative Council.
However, the expected Cabinet berth did not come.
There was no major political hurdle in making Nagababu a minister, but for reasons that remain unclear, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu did not induct him into the Cabinet.
This reportedly led both Nagababu and Pawan Kalyan to give up hopes of a ministerial post.
Against this backdrop, the government has now appointed Nagababu as Chairman of the AP GREEN Executive Committee, dealing with greening and reforestation, and accorded him Cabinet-rank status.
Interestingly, the environment and forest departments are handled by Pawan Kalyan himself.
This has triggered speculation within political circles that Pawan may have found a Cabinet-rank position for his brother through departments under his control, without waiting any longer for a Cabinet berth from Chandrababu.
Some Jana Sena leaders believe Pawan took the decision after concluding that Chandrababu was not keen on inducting Nagababu into the Council of Ministers.
There is also discussion that the TDP leadership has so far remained relatively silent on Nagababu’s new appointment.
What exactly happened behind the scenes is still unclear.
But the buzz within Jana Sena is that Pawan decided to move ahead with an alternative plan only after losing hope that Nagababu would be given a ministerial berth.
For now, Nagababu may not be a minister, but he has finally secured a position carrying Cabinet rank.
