AP Cabinet reshuffle had no political overtones: CM office

Reshuffle of portfolios following the Cabinet expansion was purely ''an administrative'' exercise, the Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister's Office said here today.

Reacting to media reports that yesterday's reshuffle had a political angle, a release from CMO said it was carried out on administrative grounds.

"It is requested not to ascribe any political overtones to the decision taken purely on administrative grounds in the interest of public at large. The entire Cabinet is working as a team," the release said.

Three new ministers were inducted into the state cabinet yesterday. The agriculture portfolio, held by Deputy Chief Minister C Damodar Rajanarasimha, has now been entrusted to Kanna Lakshminarayana. New minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy is now the minister for housing, a portfolio held by Lakshminarayana.

Health Minister D L Ravindra Reddy has been divested of some departments such as medical education, which are now entrusted to K Murali Mohan.

Media reports claimed that the Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister were at the receiving end in the exercise.