Denied cabinet berths, TRS seniors air dissent

Three prominent Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leaders, who couldn’t find a place in Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao’s cabinet, have expressed their displeasure out in open. In a party where dissent is uncommon, the three leaders - former deputy chief minister T Rajaiah, former Home Minister Nayani Narsimha Reddy and Adilabad sitting MLA Jogu Ramanna, emboldened by the “I am also a owner” rant of state health minister Eatela Rajender, decided to air their feelings.

Narsimha Reddy speaking with media in the Assembly lobby, said that KCR has actually promised him a cabinet berth. “But he failed to keep his promise,” Reddy said.

“When I wanted MLA seat, he said that he will send me to Council and from there induct me in the cabinet. KCR also promised an MLC seat for my son in law,” an angry Reddy added.

He also refused to accept the TSRTC Chairmanship reportedly offered by the Chief Minister. “There is no juice in that post,” he added.

“While KCR is the elder of the house, we are all owners. Who knows when the tenants (leaders from other parties) will leave the party in a lurch,” he said. Rajaiah was upset because no Madigas (sub-sect in SCs) had found a place in the cabinet.

“Madigas comprise around 12 % in the state. Madigas who are numerically stronger in Telangana compared to AP found no place in the cabinet,” he observed.

TRS MLA goes incommunicado

Meanwhile, the Adilabad legislator Jogu Ramanna went incommunicado after the second phase of cabinet expansion. On Monday, the MLA kept his gunman and his vehicle at his Hyderabad residence without telling anyone about his plans. Attempts to reach him on his mobile phone failed and efforts are on to trace him.

Yet, another senior leader Rasamayi Balakrishna also supported Etela Rajender’s comments claiming ownership of the TRS party. However, KCR, otherwise known for dealing with dissent with an iron fist, restrained himself from shunting out Etela from the cabinet.