Hyderabad, Feb 6 (IANS) For the second time in less than three weeks, the Andhra Pradesh cabinet is set to be expanded Tuesday evening with the induction of three ministers.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan will administer the oaths of office and secrecy to the new ministers at 6.28 p.m. at Raj Bhavan, officials said here Monday.
Uttam Kumar Reddy, Prasad Kumar and Kondru Murali are likely to be inducted into the cabinet to fill the vacancies caused by the resignations of two ministers over the Telangana issue last year and the dropping of another minister P. Shankar Rao last month.
The ruling Congress party took the decision after Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy held talks with party president Sonia Gandhi and other central leaders in New Delhi during the last two days.
Though deputy speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, former state Congress chief D. Srinivas and another legislator Gandra Venkatramna Reddy were strong contenders for ministerial berths, the Congress leadership has reportedly decided to limit the exercise to the induction of three ministers. Venkatramna Reddy is likely to be appointed as the government chief whip.
While Uttam Kumar Reddy and Prasad Kumar are from Telangana, the current government chief whip Kondru Murali hails from the coastal Andhra.
The cabinet was expanded on Jan 19 with the induction of two ministers from Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), which has already merged with the Congress party.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan will administer the oaths of office and secrecy to the new ministers at 6.28 p.m. at Raj Bhavan, officials said here Monday.
Uttam Kumar Reddy, Prasad Kumar and Kondru Murali are likely to be inducted into the cabinet to fill the vacancies caused by the resignations of two ministers over the Telangana issue last year and the dropping of another minister P. Shankar Rao last month.
The ruling Congress party took the decision after Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy held talks with party president Sonia Gandhi and other central leaders in New Delhi during the last two days.
Though deputy speaker Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka, former state Congress chief D. Srinivas and another legislator Gandra Venkatramna Reddy were strong contenders for ministerial berths, the Congress leadership has reportedly decided to limit the exercise to the induction of three ministers. Venkatramna Reddy is likely to be appointed as the government chief whip.
While Uttam Kumar Reddy and Prasad Kumar are from Telangana, the current government chief whip Kondru Murali hails from the coastal Andhra.
The cabinet was expanded on Jan 19 with the induction of two ministers from Praja Rajyam Party (PRP), which has already merged with the Congress party.
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