Telangana Movement leader and president of Telangana Jana Samithi, Professor M. Kodandaram, has been nominated as a member of the Legislative Council by the government, raising speculations that Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy is contemplating his inclusion in the state cabinet.
Rumors suggest that Professor M. Kodandaram might be assigned the education portfolio if included. According to sources within the Congress party, Chief Minister Revanth Reddy aims to finalize the full cabinet before the budget session of the assembly, with the state cabinet anticipated to undergo expansion in the first week of February. Currently comprising 12 ministers, including Parryvant Reddy, the cabinet expansion could accommodate six more individuals.
It is noteworthy that Professor M. Kodandaram played a pivotal role in the Telangana movement, leading the Telangana Jai AC. Despite his instrumental leadership during the movement, after the formation of Telangana and the ascendancy of BRS, he was notably overlooked by KCR. In the previous assembly elections, Professor Kodandaram extended unconditional support to the Congress, with the assurance of a Council nomination in the event of a Congress government formation.
The Congress, gearing up to maintain its momentum from the assembly elections into the upcoming Parliament elections, is strategically diversifying its cabinet to represent various castes. As part of this strategy, Amir Ali Khan, the newly nominated council member, is rumored to be included in the cabinet. Party sources suggest that Aamir Ali Khan may be appointed to the Ministry of Minority Welfare, Ministry of Local Administration, or Ministry of Home Affairs, potentially holding the position of Co-Deputy Chief Minister. This move aims to counter the Bharatiya Rashtriya Samithi’s (BRS) potential influence in the Parliament elections by addressing sentiments specific to Telangana.