Hyderabad: The induction of five new faces from Andhra Pradesh in the Cabinet and the elevation of a Minister of State to the Cabinet rank have disappointed many senior Congress MPs from the state.
Harsha Kumar, an MP from Amlapuram in coastal Andhra, criticised the party's central leadership for ignoring the senior leaders. He alleged that those working for the party were ignored while others were included.
Without naming anyone, Harsha Kumar also remarked that the sitting ministers had done nothing for the party.
Miffed over being ignored, Kavuri Sambasiva Rao, senior leader from coastal Andhra and Eluru MP, sent in his resignation to Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar and Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Saturday.
Sambasiva Rao's supporters staged a protest in Eluru on Sunday over the party ignoring the five-time MP.
Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, MP from Guntur, also voiced his unhappiness over the raw deal to the senior leaders. He said he would announce his future course of action after consulting his supporters.
Anjan Kumar Yadav MP from Secunderabad is also reportedly unhappy over the party ignoring him for a cabinet berth. State minister Danam Nagender said it was unfortunate that the Secunderabad MP was not included in the cabinet.
With the induction of five, the number of central ministers from Andhra Pradesh has gone up to 10, the highest in the state's history.
Member of Rajya Sabha K Chiranjeevi, who had merged his Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress last year, has been made minister of state with independent charge. Four others inducted as ministers are Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy, Sarve Satyanarayana, Porika Balram Naik and Killi Kruparani.
Minister of state Pallam Raju has also been elevated to the cabinet rank.
The portfolios of some sitting ministers have been changed. Minister of state D Purandareswari, daughter of TDP founder NT Rama Rao, was not elevated to cabinet rank, though there were indications to that effect for last couple of days. However, she was assigned commerce and industries portfolio, instead of human resources development.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy thanked Gandhi and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh for giving highest priority and many opportunities to the state. He greeted the new ministers from the state and hoped that they would serve the country in general and Andhra Pradesh in particular in their new capacities.
Main opposition Telugu Desam Party described the cabinet rejig as a desperate attempt by the Congress party to woo people. TDP leader N Rajkumari said the move showed the Congress was worried over the ongoing padyatra of party chief N Chandrababu Naidu.
Harsha Kumar, an MP from Amlapuram in coastal Andhra, criticised the party's central leadership for ignoring the senior leaders. He alleged that those working for the party were ignored while others were included.
Without naming anyone, Harsha Kumar also remarked that the sitting ministers had done nothing for the party.
Sambasiva Rao's supporters staged a protest in Eluru on Sunday over the party ignoring the five-time MP.
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Anjan Kumar Yadav MP from Secunderabad is also reportedly unhappy over the party ignoring him for a cabinet berth. State minister Danam Nagender said it was unfortunate that the Secunderabad MP was not included in the cabinet.
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Member of Rajya Sabha K Chiranjeevi, who had merged his Praja Rajyam Party with the Congress last year, has been made minister of state with independent charge. Four others inducted as ministers are Kotla Jaya Surya Prakash Reddy, Sarve Satyanarayana, Porika Balram Naik and Killi Kruparani.
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The portfolios of some sitting ministers have been changed. Minister of state D Purandareswari, daughter of TDP founder NT Rama Rao, was not elevated to cabinet rank, though there were indications to that effect for last couple of days. However, she was assigned commerce and industries portfolio, instead of human resources development.
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Main opposition Telugu Desam Party described the cabinet rejig as a desperate attempt by the Congress party to woo people. TDP leader N Rajkumari said the move showed the Congress was worried over the ongoing padyatra of party chief N Chandrababu Naidu.
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