Amid reports that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on course to expand his cabinet, questions are being raised about whether Andhra Pradesh will get a representation in the cabinet. Sources say that the recent meeting of the top brass of the party felt that AP should be given some representation in the cabinet.
Sources say that party senior leader GVL Narasimha Rao could be made a minister in Modi cabinet. He may be given a state minister post, according to sources. This will ensure some voice for Andhra Pradesh. As of now, AP has no representation in Modi cabinet. Sources say that GVL would be able to voice the grievances of the Telugu people and ensure that the state gets its due. Meanwhile, Modi is planning for a rejig to accommodate some senior party leaders and to fill the vacancies created either by the death of incumbents or resignations by the ministers belonging to NDA partner parties. Several leaders like Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sushil Modi, Sarbananda Sonowal, Bhupendra Yadav and Kailash Vijayvargiya will have to be accommodated, while vacancies created by the sudden death of Ram Vilas Paswan and others too have to be filled.
As of now, Telangana has a minister of state in the form of G Kishan Reddy. AP has only a Rajya Sabha MP and he will in all probability be appointed as a minister. Party sources say that the top leadership now wants to focus on Andhra Pradesh and hence representation has become necessary.
