Telangana CM, Dy CM and TPCC chief for Delhi today evening; Speculations surge about impending cabinet expansion

Telangana Congress leaders head to Delhi giving rise to specualtions about cabinet expansion

Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka and the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) chief and MLC B. Mahesh Kumar Goud would leave for New Delhi on Monday (March 24, 2025) evening to meet the central leadership of the party giving rise to speculation that the impending cabinet expansion could be taken up shortly.

Sources said the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership had asked the three leaders to come to Delhi on Monday evening for discussions. Irrigation Minister N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, who has also been involved in consultation on the State Congress affairs and governance in Telangana, is also likely to reach the national capital this evening.

It was pointed out that the Chief Minister and others will have a meeting with AICC general secretary K. C. Venugopal tonight. It is believed that the central leadership is keen on giving the go ahead with the proposed cabinet expansion before Ugadi festival.

With too many aspirants hoping to make it to the Cabinet, the party leadership is in for a tight rope walk to accommodate all the leaders. Against the full strength of 18 in the State Cabinet including the Chief Minister, there are 12 Council of Ministers currently leaving six more to be filled up.

In wake of the government’s focus on the social engineering and its commitment in passage of the two Backward Classes reservation bill ensuring 42% representation in education, employment and in local bodies and SC sub-categorisation, there is speculation that these sections will be recognised in the next round of cabinet expansion. Also, there is demand to include a minority community in the State Cabinet with influential Reddy community also demanding its pound of share in the expansion.

It is to be seen, whether the central leadership will discuss the long pending proposed reconstitution of the Pradesh Congress Committee executive. The State leadership had already sent its tentative list of leaders to be accommodated in the executive. Interestingly, the TPCC chief has convened a meeting of the DCC presidents on March 27 at Gandhi Bhavan to discuss the latest political developments.