Andhra Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan's brother Naga Babu to be inducted into state cabinet

Pawan Kalyan had earlier sought one of the three Rajya Sabha seats that had fallen vacant recently for his brother. However, both the allies, TDP and BJP, had taken the three seats and offered a berth in the state cabinet to Naga Babu.

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan's elder brother, Naga Babu, is all set to join the state cabinet as a minister soon.

Pawan Kalyan had earlier sought one of the three Rajya Sabha seats that had fallen vacant recently for his brother. However, both allies, TDP and BJP, had taken the three seats and offered a berth in the state cabinet to Naga Babu.

The YSRCP-elected Rajya Sabha members Beeda Mastan Rao, Mopidevi Venkata Ramana, and R Krishnaiah resigned from the upper house a few days ago. The TDP opted to re-nominate Mastan Rao and selected businessman Sana Satish for two seats, while leaving the third seat open for the BJP. The BJP had decided to re-nominate BC leader R Krishnaiah. Given that there was no vacancy in the Rajya Sabha from the state, the alliance partners agreed to induct Naga Babu into the state cabinet.

Naga Babu is not a member of either of the houses in the state legislature. It is learnt that Naga Babu will become an MLC, paving the way for his induction into the state cabinet. Naga Babu in the general elections wanted to contest from the Anakapalli Lok Sabha segment.

As part of seat sharing, the Anakapalli Lok Sabha seat went to the BJP, from where C M Ramesh won. Naga Babu, having missed both the Anakapalli Lok Sabha and now the Rajya Sabha opportunities, will now be a member of the state cabinet.

Due to a lack of sufficient numbers in the state assembly, TDP stayed away from Rajya Sabha elections in February this year, after which, for the first time in the 41 years of its history, the 'Yellow Party' had no representation in the upper house of parliament. With no numbers at all in February, TDP will have two in a few days in Rajya Sabha.