Even as suspense continues over the fate of Telangana Environment, Forests and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha, pending possible disciplinary action from the Congress high command, talk of a cabinet reshuffle and expansion by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy is gaining momentum within party circles.
According to party sources, Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka and TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud have been summoned to New Delhi for discussions on September 3.
AICC in-charge for Telangana affairs K C Venugopal, who is currently abroad, is expected to return to Delhi on September 1 and is likely to take up Telangana-related issues thereafter, party sources said.
The September 3 discussions are expected to focus on both the Konda Surekha controversy and a possible restructuring of the State cabinet. A disciplinary committee report concerning Surekha has already reached the AICC, and the high command is now expected to take a final decision on the matter.
Sources said the Congress high command is likely to give the green signal to Revanth Reddy to reshuffle and expand the cabinet while also initiating disciplinary action against Surekha.
If Surekha is removed from the cabinet, discussions are also expected to begin over who should replace her. There has been speculation for some time that TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud could be inducted into the State cabinet as part of the reshuffle.
In such a scenario, another senior leader could be appointed as the new TPCC president. Party circles are reportedly considering the possibility of giving the TPCC chief’s post to either an ST or BC leader.
Vemulawada MLA Adi Srinivas and Mahabubabad MP Balram Naik are among the names said to be under consideration.
There is also speculation that another minister could be dropped as part of the exercise and that the portfolios of some ministers may be reshuffled.
The high command’s consultations are therefore expected to focus on balancing cabinet representation, organisational requirements and the political equations within the Telangana Congress.
