YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s decision not to give nominated posts to elected representatives like MLAs and MPs has created a commotion in the party.
The YSRC party MLAs, who could not make it to the state cabinet, are hoping to get at least important nominated posts, such as corporation chairpersons, so that they would enjoy the cabinet rank and protocol benefits.
After coming to power in May 2019, Jagan gave nominated posts to at least three MLAs – Nagari MLA and actress R K Roja was appointed as the chairperson of AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, Rajanagaram MLA Jakkampudi Raja as AP Kapu Welfare Corporation chairman and Malladi Vishnu as AP Brahmin Corporation chairman.
So, this time, too, many MLAs were hopeful of getting one or the other corporation chairperson posts. But they were shattered with the latest decision of Jagan. And the three MLAs who were enjoying the nominated posts have lost their posts.
Roja was replaced by Mettu Goverdhan Reddy, Jakkampudi Raja by Adapa Seshu and Malladi Vishnu by Sudhakar.
Particularly, Roja is said to be terribly disappointed. She had been a trusted lieutenant of Jagan right from the beginning and a strong voice in the party.
In the first cabinet formation, she was strongly hopeful of getting a berth, but because of caste equations, Jagan could not take her into the cabinet.
After keeping her waiting for a couple of months, Roja was given the chairperson of the APIIC. But now, within two years, she had to relinquish the post.
Party sources said Jagan has promised that he would take Roja into the cabinet in the next phase of reshuffle.
As per the original announcement, the cabinet reshuffle would have to happen in December this year, but recently, Jagan declared that he would give another six months’ time for the existing ministers.
Thus, there is no scope for any cabinet expansion at least till June 2022. It means, the new batch of ministers will have only two years’ tenure.
So, Roja will have to wait for another year to know whether she has any luck to get into the cabinet. Till such time, she will remain an MLA.
So is the case with Malladi Vishnu. He was also promised a cabinet berth in the next reshuffle. It remains to be seen whether he will be lucky to get it next year.
