Balu Naik misses out despite ST quota hopes
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
Economic Times
12 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Rahul Gandhi claims Arun Jaitley was sent to 'threaten' him fr opposing farm laws
ANI "I don't think you have an idea...": Rahul Gandhi claims Arun Jaitley sent to "threaten" him Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Saturday claimed that the NDA government had sent the late Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to "threaten" him for trying to fight against the farm laws that were introduced by the Narendra Modi government earlier."I remember when I was fighting the farm laws, Arun Jaitley was sent to me to threaten me. He told me, 'If you carry on opposing the government, fighting the farm laws, we will have to act against you. ' I looked at him and said 'I don't think you have an idea who you are talking to,'" Rahul Gandhi said. The Congress leader addressing the Annual Legal Conclave 2025 also launched a scathing attack on the Election Commission of India (ECI), alleging its complicity in large-scale voter fraud."The truth is that the election system in India is already dead. The Prime Minister of India holds office with a very slim majority. If 15 seats were rigged, we suspect that the number is over 70 to 80, he would not have been the Prime Minister of India. We are going to prove to you in the coming few days how a Lok Sabha election can be rigged and was rigged," Gandhi said. The Congress leader went on to credit lawyers, among others, for obtaining freedom from British rule, saying that the freedom movement was fought legally in actuality. However, he alleged that the constitutional architecture built by lawyers was being "destroyed". In the annual legal conclave titled 'Constitutional Challenges - Perspectives & Pathways' organised by Congress, Gandhi said that all talks about the constitution wouldn't happen if it weren't for lawyers. "You (lawyers) are the people who started Congress. Congress was essentially (made up of) lawyers. We wouldn't have got freedom if the lawyers of this country had not fought for freedom. All this talk about the constitution, the constitution would not be here if it had not been for lawyers," Gandhi said while addressing the gathering here. Crediting lawyers for envisioning the constitution, the Leader of Opposition (LoP) Lok Sabha said that the entire constitutional architecture is a result of a legal mind and fraternity, since it would have been impossible for people who don't understand law to frame the constitution. "Freedom movement was actually fought, in large measure, legally. You are the backbone of the Congress party. You are also the people who envisioned the constitution. It would have been impossible for people who don't understand the law to frame this (constitution). It was the legal mind, fraternity that built the entire architecture," he added. Gandhi asserted that the architecture built by lawyers was being "destroyed" systematically at every front. "I am telling you this, that it is the architecture that you build, which is being destroyed today. It is being systematically unravelled on every front. Some of it is visible while the other is hidden," he said. Speaking on the Rafale deal, Gandhi claimed that a document clearly mentioned that the PMO and the National Security Agency (NSA) interfered with the deal. He said that the document would have brought down any government in any country of the world, but nothing happened. "We had a document on the Rafale deal. The document said clearly, black and white, that the Prime Minister's office and the NSA have interfered in the Rafale deal and damaged it. This document itself would have brought down any government in any country of the world. Nothing happened. You know where the document went. You know where the document died," he top leaders, including Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge, KC Venugopal, Abhishek Singhvi, Ajay Maken, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, Mukul Wasnik, Jairam Ramesh, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Telangana CM Revanth Reddy, Himachal Pradesh CM Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, Ashok Gehlot, Bhupinder Hooda, Prithviraj Chavan, Digvijaya Singh, Bhupesh Baghel, Gaurav Gogoi, Salman Khurshid, DK Shivakumar were present at the conclave.
Economic Times
12 minutes ago
- Economic Times
Rohan Jaitley fact-checks Rahul Gandhi over claim that late Arun Jaitley 'threatened' him over farm laws
Agencies Rahul Gandhi (left); Former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley (right) Congress leader Rahul Gandhi was fact-checked on Saturday by Rohan Jaitley, son of former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, after alleging that the late BJP stalwart was 'sent to threaten' him during the 2020 farm law protests. The claim — made by Gandhi during the Annual Legal Conclave 2025 in Delhi — drew swift rebuttal from Rohan, who pointed out that Arun Jaitley passed away in 2019, while the farm laws were introduced in 2020. Speaking at the Congress-organised conclave on 'Constitutional Challenges - Perspectives & Pathways', Rahul Gandhi launched a scathing attack on the Narendra Modi government, the Election Commission, and alleged large-scale voter fraud in the 2024 Lok Sabha his speech, Gandhi claimed that the BJP-led NDA had tried to silence him when he opposed the now-repealed farm laws. He directly named Arun Jaitley, stating:'I remember when I was fighting the farm laws, Arun Jaitley was sent to me to threaten me. He told me, 'If you carry on opposing the government, fighting the farm laws, we will have to act against you.' I looked at him and said, 'I don't think you have an idea who you are talking to.'' The Congress leader also used the platform to accuse the Election Commission of being complicit in electoral manipulation and questioned the legitimacy of the Modi government's a sharply worded response issued after Gandhi's remarks, Rohan Jaitley reminded the Congress MP of the timeline, stating that his father had died a year before the contentious farm laws were enacted.'Rahul Gandhi now claims my late father, Arun Jaitley, threatened him over the farm laws. Let me remind him, my father passed away in 2019. The farm laws were introduced in 2020,' Rohan said. — rohanjaitley (@rohanjaitley) Calling the claim not only factually inaccurate but also disrespectful, Rohan added:'More importantly, it was not in my father's nature to threaten anyone over an opposing view. He was a staunch democrat and always believed in building consensus. If at all such a situation was to occur, as it often does in politics, he would invite free and open discussions to arrive at a mutually acceptable solution to all. That was simply who he was and that remains his legacy today.'Taking strong exception to the invocation of his late father's name, Rohan urged Rahul Gandhi to show greater sensitivity:'I would appreciate Rahul Gandhi being mindful while speaking of those not with us. He attempted something similar with Manohar Parrikar ji, politicising his final days which was in equally poor taste. Let the departed Rest in Peace.'During his address, Gandhi also attacked the Election Commission, claiming that the 2024 general elections had been rigged. He said:'The truth is that the election system in India is already dead. The Prime Minister of India holds office with a very slim majority. If 15 seats were rigged — we suspect that the number is over 70 to 80 — he would not have been the Prime Minister of India. We are going to prove to you in the coming few days how a Lok Sabha election can be rigged and was rigged.'He also referred to the Rafale fighter jet deal, alleging high-level interference:'We had a document on the Rafale deal. The document said clearly, black and white, that the Prime Minister's Office and the NSA have interfered in the Rafale deal and damaged it. This document itself would have brought down any government in any country of the world. Nothing happened. You know where the document went. You know where the document died.'Gandhi praised the legal fraternity, claiming that it was lawyers who both built the Congress and conceptualised India's constitutional framework. However, he warned that this legal and democratic architecture was being 'systematically unravelled.''I am telling you this, that it is the architecture that you build, which is being destroyed today. It is being systematically unravelled on every front. Some of it is visible while the other is hidden.' The conclave was attended by several senior Congress leaders, including party president Mallikarjun Kharge, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, KC Venugopal, Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Jairam Ramesh, and chief ministers Siddaramaiah, Revanth Reddy and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, among others. (With inputs from ANI)
India.com
14 minutes ago
- India.com
India Won't Spare Anyone Who Attacks The Nation, Even In Pataal Lok: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday delivered a stern message to Pakistan, declaring that India will not spare anyone who dares to attack the nation, even if they are hiding in the depths of "Pataal Lok." Addressing a public rally in his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, the Prime Minister Modi said "When there is injustice and terror in front, Mahadev adorns his 'Rudra roop'. The world saw this face of India during Operation Sindoor. Anyone who messes with India will not be spared even in 'pataal lok'. Unfortunately, some people do not like the success of Operation Sindoor." Targeting the Opposition for questioning the success of 'Operation Sindoor', Prime Minister Modi said that some people in our own country are unable to digest its success. "Some people in our own country are not able to digest the success of 'Operation Sindoor'. The Congress and its ecosystem are upset that India destroyed Pakistan's terror camps. I ask you -- are you proud of Operation Sindoor? Did you see how our missiles and drones dismantled the terror bases with precision? Pakistan's airbases are still in the ICU," PM Modi said.
