Congress MLA from Munugode, Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, who managed to rejoin the party at the last moment and secure the party ticket to contest the recent assembly elections in Telangana, still perceives himself as the most influential leader within the party.
On Thursday, Rajagopal Reddy announced his imminent induction into the state cabinet led by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
He stated that a Cabinet expansion would occur after the budget session and claimed that the party high command had assured him of a cabinet position.
Furthermore, he allocated himself the significant home portfolio and expressed his intention to request the high command to appoint him as the Home Minister of Telangana.
"I appeal to the party leadership to assign me the home ministry. Only then can we bring the Bharat Rashtra Samithi under control," he told media personnel on the assembly premises.
He asserted that there is no rule preventing his inclusion in the cabinet, even though his brother, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, serves as a cabinet minister.
"I was offered a cabinet position even before joining the Congress party," he stated.
Rajagopal Reddy defected to the Bharatiya Janata Party in 2022 after a disagreement with PCC president Revanth Reddy and contested from Munugode in the by-elections in November 2022. However, following his electoral defeat, he distanced himself from the party and ultimately rejoined the Congress just before the elections.
Regarding the possibility of fielding his family members from either the Nalgonda or Bhongir Lok Sabha constituencies, he stated, "We are considering not nominating any family members. However, if directed by the party high command, we will reconsider."
He added that every effort would be made to ensure the party's victory, regardless of the candidate selected.
