The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : CM rules out Cabinet expansion

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Nov 03, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

CM rules out Cabinet expansion

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, NOV.2. The Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, today ruled out the possibility of expanding his Council of Ministers.

Dr. Reddy, who arrived here to attend a series of functions, called on the Congress president, Sonia Gandhi. "There is no Cabinet expansion for now," he told correspondents later.

The possibility of an expansion gained ground amid reports of differences between the Congress and the Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) and speculation that the TRS Ministers may eventually leave the Cabinet.

A sticking point

The differences are primarily over the TRS' insistence that the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance Government take steps for creation of separate Telangana by the year-end. It is understood that the TRS leader and Union Minister, A. Narendra, refrained from raising the issue at the meeting of full Council of Ministers held by the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, on Monday.

On his part, Dr. Reddy reiterated the party's preference for setting up a second States Reorganisation Commission to address the demand for smaller States.

Talks with naxals

On the issue of talks with the Communist Party of India (Maoist), the Chief Minister said though no date had been fixed for the second round, the focus would be on laying down of arms. He said the main agenda before the Government was peace. He described as unfortunate reports that the naxalites were re-grouping during the ceasefire period.

Dr. Reddy said after the first round of talks, the Government was taking steps to address issues relating to land. Asked about complaints of forcible occupation of land, the Chief Minister said the Government would take appropriate measures.

On pending irrigation projects, Dr. Reddy said the Government was committed to completing them. He said the Government had projects worth Rs.46, 000 crores that were to be implemented over the next five years and that the first budget had earmarked a portion of the required funds for the same. The Government had scheduled "bhoomi pooja'' for the Polavaram project on November 8.

Council revival

Dr. Reddy said the bill for revival of the Legislative Council would come up for consideration in Parliament in the winter session. An indication to this effect was given to him by the Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Ghulam Nabi Azad, when he called on him. Mr. Azad will visit Hyderbad and Vijayawada later this month to review urban development programmes.

Meanwhile, the new Pradesh Congress Committee president, K. Keshava Rao, also called on Ms. Gandhi. He described it as a courtesy call and said among other things he discussed the possibility of forming a new team. The PCC chief said he would consult senior party colleagues and the Chief Minister.

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