HYDERABAD: For Congress MLAs, this weekend is going to be crucial as their fortunes will be decided in the impending Cabinet expansion. Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy will be in New Delhi on September 1 and 2 to discuss the revamp of his 27-month-old Ministry with AICC president Sonia Gandhi. The Telangana issue in the wake of the resignation from the Union Cabinet by TRS leaders is also expected to figure in his discussions with AICC leaders.

Cabinet expansion remains one of the biggest challenges faced by him so far as the fear of dissidence lurks behind the exercise as in the case of most Congress Chief Ministers. So far, five districts - Mahabubnagar, Khammam, Hyderabad, West Godavari and Chittoor - have no representation in the Cabinet. While in Khammam it is more a matter of sorting out differences among groups, in other districts the tussle is between individuals. Chittoor district has at least five contenders in Galla Aruna Kumari, N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, G. Muddukrishnama Naidu, R. Chenga Reddy and G. Kuthuhalamma. Talk of Speaker K.R. Suresh Reddy preferring a Cabinet berth is also making the rounds.

Though there are already two Ministers from Nizamabad district, those arguing in favour of Mr. Reddy point to the vacancy created by resignation of S. Santosh Reddy of TRS.

MSR unhappy?

Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs, M. Satyanarayana Rao, is not too happy with the portfolio nor is Mr. Srinivas.

It is also to be watched whether Telangana MLAs get a larger share of the cake following the latest political developments.

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