Hyderabad, December 8: Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy embarked on a visit to Delhi on Friday to engage in discussions with Congress leadership regarding the allocation of portfolios to ministers and the impending Cabinet expansion.
After being sworn in as Chief Minister and participating in various events, Reddy flew to the national capital from Begumpet Airport on a special aircraft. His agenda includes talks with AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge, Rahul Gandhi, and other senior leaders to finalize the distribution of portfolios among the 11 ministers who took the oath alongside him on Thursday.
Reddy will also seek guidance from central leadership for the expansion of the Cabinet, with the names of six additional ministers expected to be decided in the coming days.
With a maximum allowance of 18 ministers, including the Chief Minister, for the state, there are demands from various quarters for ministerial berths. The Congress leadership is reportedly considering inclusivity, especially for sections that were left unrepresented in the initial selection.
Given the absence of Muslim candidates from the Congress party in the November 30 Assembly elections, the leadership is contemplating the inclusion of one or two Muslim ministers, possibly nominating them to the Legislative Council later. The names of senior leaders Mohammed Ali Shabbir and Mohammed Azharuddin are reportedly under consideration for this representation.
As the Cabinet expansion unfolds, there are also calls to accommodate experienced leaders like Jeevan Reddy, Madhu Yaskhi Goud, and Jagga Reddy, who failed to secure election to the Assembly.
With Congress securing 64 seats in the 119-member Assembly, the central leadership will play a pivotal role in deciding on the portfolios and ensuring fair representation for communities and regions that may have been overlooked during the initial Cabinet formation.
