Hyderabad: With the ensuing Lok Sabha elections nearing, the Revanth Reddy government is keen on expanding the State Cabinet. As per the sources at Gandhi Bhavan, chief minister Revanth Reddy may go in for the cabinet expansion exercise by the end of this month or first week of February.

Continuing its social justice agenda, Congress may choose a second deputy chief minister either from the BC or minority community. Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka is the only deputy to Revanth Reddy and he’s been given the charge of finance and planning and energy departments.

Despite the ruling party’s social justice system, currently four undivided districts are not represented in the State Cabinet which has four members from Reddy community, two each from BC and SC communities and one each from ST, Kamma and Velama communities.

Congress Adilabad MLAs Gaddam Vivekanand, also known as Gaddam Vivek Venkatswamy, and Kokkirala Prem Sagar Rao are hoping for a ministerial berth in the cabinet expansion. However, doubts are being raised over Vivek’s chances of getting a cabinet post. He belongs to the Mala community and Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and Gaddam Prasad, both Mala members, have already been accommodated in the cabinet.

However, Prem Sagar Rao, who is from Velama community, is hopeful of a ministerial berth. Madan Mohan Rao from Nizamabad is also in the race for the post. Speculations are rife that Jupalli Krishna Rao from the same caste group may be given a ministerial position.

As there’s no representation from the minority community, the Congress leadership may induct someone from the community in the State Cabinet. Notably, no single minority leader from the party won the assembly election or is an MLC.

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