Date:30/01/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/01/30/stories/2006013007690600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Cabinet expansion evokes protests in AndhraPradesh

Special Correspondent

Seniors ignored, says CWC member G. Venkataswamy

Hyderabad: Sunday's expansion of the Union Council of Ministers has left a few senior Congress leaders in Andhra Pradesh unhappy.

Foremost among them is the Congress Working Committee member G. Venkataswamy, who minced no words while talking to the media here after the swearing-in ceremony. He said party seniors had been ignored, while rank juniors had got recognition. Injustice was done to Andhra Pradesh as a whole since not a single MP was given Cabinet rank, while Telangana region and the weaker sections had received a raw deal.

In contrast, as many as three leaders had been given Cabinet berths in Maharashtra where the Congress was in power in coalition with the NCP. Injustice was meted out to the Congressmen even in 2004 when the two TRS leaders, K. Chandrasekhara Rao and A. Narendra, were included in the Council of Ministers, the former with Cabinet rank. Congress Ministers were now given insignificant portfolios.

Mr. Venkatswamy said cold-shouldering a senior Backward Class leader like V. Hanumantha Rao was also not a good sign. He said he would take Chief Minister Y.S.Rajasekhara Reddy along with him to represent the matter to AICC president Sonia Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The discontent in the party may have its impact on the forthcoming Panchayat elections in the State, Mr. Venkataswamy said.

Senior Congress MPs K. S. Rao and Rayapati Sambasiva Rao also used strong language to express their resentment against the raw deal for senior partymen. Surprisingly, Mr. Hanumantha Rao, who was considered a strong aspirant, remained unruffled. He told the media that he would abide by "Soniaji's decision."

Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy himself did not appear to be too happy with the development. Asked to comment on the non-inclusion of Rayalaseema MPs in the Ministry, he quipped "perhaps Rayalaseema is just a part of coastal Andhra for them," he said. After the call given by the AICC plenary for strengthening the party's base through an inclusive agenda of giving importance to Dalits, minorities and other weaker sections, partymen were expecting that this would get reflected in the expansion. But, this did not happen, they said.