Telangana Cabinet expansion: A calculated move towards social justice

The Hindu

08-06-2025

The long-awaited expansion of the Telangana Cabinet reflected the Congress Government's commitment to social justice and inclusive representation.
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy gave the final touches on Saturday (June 7, 2025) night on what appears to be a politically astute, yet socially balanced reshuffle, since the all the three new Ministers are from the marginalised communities.
The expansion underscores Revanth Reddy's 'social justice formula', which he has consistently advocated since assuming office. The decision to induct three Ministers from downtrodden castes, including one from the Mudiraj community, aligns with the Congress's larger social narrative and follows in the wake of the recent caste survey conducted by the government.
Ponnam Prabhkar from the Goud Community and Konda Surekha from Munnuru Kapus, two strong OBC communities (Konda Surekha is a Padmashali but her husband is a Munnuru Kapu) have already been accommodated in the initial Cabinet formation. The addition of a Mudiraj Minister now brings balance among the dominant Backward Classes.
Notably, for the first time in Telangana's political history, four Ministers from Scheduled Castes (SCs) will serve simultaneously in the Cabinet, a record, especially when the Speaker of the Assembly also belongs to the SC community. This is being seen as a direct reflection of Rahul Gandhi's influence, pushing the party toward greater representation for the marginalised.
However, the expansion is not without its political friction. Three berths remain vacant, with Minorities and Scheduled Tribes (STs) still awaiting representation. The move has left Reddy leaders, traditionally powerful in Telangana politics, on the sidelines, caught in a power tussle between Komatireddy Rajgopal Reddy and P. Sudershan Reddy.
The three vacancies are directly related to the party's dilemma in choosing one among them. P Sudershan Reddy, a Congress veteran worked in Y.S. Rajashekhar Reddy's Cabinet in the combined State. His name was pushed hard by the CM Revanth Reddy with the high command.
Rajgopal Reddy, in particular, is likely to feel betrayed, as his return to Congress from the BJP before the elections was reportedly conditional upon a Cabinet berth. Even the party high command was in his favour, but the challenge was to balance the equations. His brother Komatireddy Venkata Reddy is already in the Cabinet and so is N. Uttam Kumar Reddy — both from the combined Nalgonda district. Another Minister from the same district and that too from Reddy community looks near impossible in the Cabinet structure.
Ironically, G. Vivek Venkatswamy, who joined the Congress alongside Rajgopal Reddy, has made it into the Cabinet. Vivek's inclusion, though beneficial in optics and outreach, given his media influence and his father G. Venkataswamy's legacy, may trigger accusations of dynasty politics. His brother G. Vinod, is a sitting MLA, and his son, G. Vamshi Krishna, is an MP, raising eyebrows within the party.
Another notable omission is Prem Sagar Rao from Adilabad, a loyalist who held the party's flag high in northern Telangana when most of the leadership switched sides to BRS or BJP between 2014 and 2024. His exclusion suggests that loyalty alone does not guarantee the reward.
First-time faces
All the new entrants are first-time MLAs, symbolising a push for fresh blood in the government. While this bodes well for generational change and grassroots connection, it also reveals the influence of Revanth Reddy, who had his mark in the selection.
The careful balancing of caste identities, combined with political consolidation, points to a strategic repositioning by the Congress in Telangana. The move signals to voters that the party is serious about social justice, while also subtly laying the groundwork for the 2029 battle.
Minority and STs await their chance
With Minority and ST representation still pending, and Reddy leaders restive, this expansion is likely just the beginning of a broader political evolvement. Whether this bold social justice experiment will yield long-term gains or internal discord will depend on how Revanth Reddy manages party expectations, governance performance, and caste equations in the months ahead.