Date:20/04/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/04/20/stories/2007042003240600.htm

Andhra Pradesh

No Deputy Chief Minister for A.P.

Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI: The Congress has decided against appointing any Deputy Chief Minister in Andhra Pradesh, where Chief Minister Y. S. Rajasekhara Reddy is planning to expand/reshuffle his Council of Ministers.

Top party sources told The Hindu that there was no move to bring a Deputy to Dr. Reddy, amid demands from State leaders that the party consider appointing either a leader from the backward community or a minority to the post.

State leaders have been arguing that the Congress would benefit from appointing a Deputy Chief Minister, especially since elections to the Assembly are to be held in two years' time.