Balu Naik misses out despite ST quota hopes
Devarakonda (Nalgonda): Cabinet expansion in Telangana has sparked unrest within the Congress party, particularly disappointing senior leader and Devarakonda MLA Balu Naik. Despite being seen as a strong contender for a ministerial berth under the Scheduled Tribe (ST) quota, Naik was left out of the cabinet reshuffle, triggering dissatisfaction among his loyal supporters and within tribal political circles.
Adding to the frustration, the Deputy Speaker post—seen as a possible consolation—was also awarded to another ST leader, Dornakal MLA Ramachandra Naik. This unexpected move has further deepened the discontent surrounding Balu Naik's exclusion, especially given his seniority and the expectations that had been built in the lead-up to the cabinet reshuffle.
The political equations within the Nalgonda district played a crucial role in the decision. With two Reddy community leaders—Komatireddy Venkat Reddy and Uttam Kumar Reddy—already occupying ministerial positions, party strategists were cautious about adding more ministers from the same district. While this was seen as an opportunity to accommodate Balu Naik and strengthen tribal representation, the party instead chose to maintain what it perceives as a social and regional balance.
The decision has not gone down well with Naik's supporters, who feel side-lined despite their consistent loyalty to the Congress. Discontent is quietly brewing, with party leadership walking a tightrope to contain the dissatisfaction. Telangana PCC chief Mahesh Goud and party in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan are reportedly engaging with unhappy leaders in a bid to pacify tensions and prevent any ripple effects within the party's organizational structure.
The cabinet reshuffle has highlighted a deeper narrative of political compromise—where social justice and regional power dynamics collide. Analysts point out that while the Congress aimed to appease multiple factions, it may have inadvertently alienated key communities by overlooking leaders like Balu Naik, who enjoy strong grassroots support.
At present, Naik has maintained silence, but party insiders suggest he is deeply disappointed. It is unclear whether he will be offered another significant party post or advisory role as compensation. For now, the spotlight remains on how the Congress leadership plans to manage the growing dissatisfaction within its ranks—and whether Balu Naik will find his due recognition in the future.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
29 minutes ago
- The Hindu
Students living in U.S. being repeatedly mistreated but PM Modi is silent: Congress
The Congress on Tuesday (June 10, 2025) slammed the government after a video emerged showing an Indian student being handcuffed and pinned to the floor at a U.S. airport, and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately talk to President Donald Trump to appeal for intervention on the 'mistreatment' of Indians in America. Congress leaders shared the video and pictures of an Indian student handcuffed and pinned to the floor at U.S.'s Newark Airport before he was allegedly deported. The Consulate General of India in New York has said it is in touch with local authorities after the video surfaced online showing the young Indian man being handcuffed and allegedly being deported. 'We have come across social media posts claiming that an Indian national is facing difficulties at Newark Liberty International Airport. We are in touch with local authorities in this regard,' the Indian Consulate said in a post on X. U.S. crackdown on students | What are New Delhi's options | Worldview Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh alleged that the Modi Government is continuously failing to protect the honour of India and Indians. 'For the first time in history, a foreign head of state has declared ceasefire between India and Pakistan in India's absence. US President Trump is continuously claiming to have ensured a ceasefire by pressuring India,' Mr. Ramesh said in his post in Hindi on X. 'For the past one year, Indian citizens and students living in America are being repeatedly mistreated but Prime Minister Modi is maintaining silence or it should be assumed that he is unable to muster the courage to speak,' Mr. Ramesh said. He is the Prime Minister of India, it is his most important responsibility to protect the honour and respect of India and Indians, Mr. Ramesh asserted. 'We demand that Prime Minister Modi should immediately talk to President Trump and appeal for intervention on the mistreatment and atrocities being committed against Indians in America,' he said. Congress' media and publicity department head Pawan Khera tagged a post on X carrying the video, which was posted online by an Indian-American social entrepreneur Kunal Jain. The video shows the Indian man pinned to the ground by Port Authority Police and being handcuffed. 'I witnessed a young Indian student being deported from Newark Airport last night — handcuffed, crying, treated like a criminal. He came chasing dreams, not causing harm. As an NRI, I felt helpless and heartbroken. This is a human tragedy,' Mr. Jain said in his post. Tagging Mr. Jain's post, Mr. Khera said, 'This is too painful, too humiliating and too distressing to watch. As a country, why should we tolerate this humiliation?' 'From the days where we showed the muscle to the U.S. during the Devyani Khobragade issue to now seeing our citizens being treated like animals, do we have no goodwill left in the world?' the Congress leader said.
India Gazette
31 minutes ago
- India Gazette
UP CM Yogi Adityanath highlights govt achievements as PM Modi completes 11 years in office
Lucknow (Uttar Pradesh) [India], June 10 (ANI): Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Tuesday inaugurated an exhibition at the BJP office in Lucknow as Prime Minister Narendra Modi completed 11 years in office. Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya and Brajesh Pathak were also present. Highlighting the Modi government's achievements in the last 11 years, UP CM Yogi asserted that good governance and welfare of the poor will be remembered as a golden era that built a developed India and a self-reliant nation. 'Welcome to today's event commemorating Prime Minister Modi's 11-year tenure in service, good governance, and the welfare of the poor,' CM Yogi said, addressing the event. 'Modi ji's 11-year term in service, good governance, and poor welfare will be remembered as a golden era that built a developed India and a self-reliant nation,' he added. He asserted that over these eleven years, PM Modi strengthened India's growth on the global stage, giving the country an international identity and making it a symbol of trust. Further taking a dig at the Opposition Congress over unstable administrations, he said, 'Due to Congress-led governments and other unstable administrations in the sixty-five years following independence, the common citizen's trust was broken, and India's global image was tarnished. But over the past 11 years, under PM Modi's leadership, a corruption-free, appeasement-free, unified India has been realised.' He emphasised that during this period, India has forged a new identity in social welfare, good governance, economy, and security. 'Government transparency and accountability towards the public have become distinguishing hallmarks. A new harmony between development and heritage has been created,' the Uttar Pradesh CM added. Stressing PM Modi's idea of 'Sabka Sath Sabka Vikas', UP CM said that the Mantra have become the face of the government. 'Now, benefits are delivered not by who someone is, but impartially--and 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas' (together with all, development for all) has become the new face of governance,' he added. He pointed out the steps taken by the NDA government's action against terrorism, highlighting the recent actions during Operation Sindoor. 'Now, we have changed our nature concerning our response to terrorism, which was before 2014 - that India favours peace. PM Modi, by giving a new normal, has changed the entire concept - we will live in peace with friends, but if someone imposes war on us, induces terrorism in our country and is a threat to our security, the response will be surgical strike, air strike and Operation Sindoor - we have shown it with made-in-India and the world has realised India's strength - just a few days back,' he added. He also mentioned the abrogation of Article 370: 'Article 370, which was imposed since 1952, was repealed by our government. And India's integrity was reinforced--from Kashmir to Kanyakumari.' Referring to the works done in the agriculture sector, he said that the double-engine government has benefited the farmers and the agri-industry. 'Before 2017, sugar mills in Uttar Pradesh were shutting down. Between 1996 and 2017, there were due payments after 22 years, but in just the last 7 years, an additional Rs 71,000 crore has been paid. This is the guarantee of a 'double-engine' government,' he said. He also pointed out schemes launched by the government intended to empower women, such as the 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, 33 per cent reservation for women in legislatures, the abolition of Triple talaq, granting freedom to women, and the 'Lakhpati Didi' scheme for women entrepreneurs. (ANI)
India Gazette
31 minutes ago
- India Gazette
Jairam Ramesh accuses Modi govt of
New Delhi [India], June 10 (ANI): Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh on Tuesday criticised the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led NDA government and accused it of 'failing' to protect and safeguard the dignity of India and Indians abroad. This comes after a video of an Indian student handcuffed and pinned to the floor at an airport in the United States went viral on social media. The Congress MP again criticised the Modi government after United States President Donald Trump announced the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan. In a social media post on X, Jairam Ramesh wrote, 'The Modi government is continuously failing to protect the honour of India and Indians. For the first time in history, a foreign head of state announced a ceasefire between India and Pakistan in India's absence. US President Trump is constantly claiming to enforce a ceasefire by pressuring India. For the past year, Indian citizens and students living in America have been repeatedly mistreated, but Prime Minister Modi is maintaining silence, or it should be assumed that he is unable to muster the courage to speak.' The Congress leader demanded that Prime Minister Modi immediately talk to President Trump and appeal for intervention in the 'mistreatment' and 'atrocities' being committed against Indians in America. The social media post reads, 'He is the Prime Minister of India, it is his most important responsibility to protect the honour and dignity of India and Indians. We demand that Prime Minister Modi should immediately talk to President Trump and appeal for intervention in the mistreatment and atrocities being committed against Indians in America.' Congress leaders have been attacking and questioning the government over Trump's self-claimed intervention during the India-Pakistan conflict.. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for stopping hostilities between India and Pakistan after New Delhi's effective response to Islamabad's aggression following precision strikes on terror infrastructure. India had conducted Operation Sindoor early on May 7 and hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and PoJK in response to the Pahalgam terror attack. (ANI)
