Date:07/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/07/stories/2008040759041200.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Dropping of Dasari surprises partymen

HYDERABAD: The Union Cabinet reshuffle on Sunday came as a disappointment for the State with two ministers — T. Subbarami Reddy and Dasari Narayana Rao — getting dropped and no fresh faces finding a place.

Two strong aspirants, Rajya Sabha members V. Hanumantha Rao and K. Keshava Rao, who missed the bus, too, were thoroughly disappointed. Ministerial berths for the State came down to six from eight, against the fact that Andhra Pradesh sent the highest number of 30 Congress MPs to the Lok Sabha in the 2004 polls and later in the byelections.

While no specific reasons have been cited, it is believed that the high command may utilise the services of the two former Union Ministers for party work. Mr. Narayana Rao was the State Campaign Committee chairman during the 2004 elections. With the talk of actor Chiranjeevi making his political entry in two-three months, party leaders felt his dropping from the Cabinet may be a cause of worry as he belongs to the Kapu community.

Leaders are also surprised at the dropping of Mr. Subbarami Reddy, who was the AICC Media Committee chairman.