Gali Janardhan Reddy Trying To Influence Jagan?

The cabinet rejig scheduled on April 11 has put the ministers on tenterhooks in Andhra Pradesh. A few of them had already started lobbying to stick to their positions while some others have started packing their bags in Vijayawada to make way for the newcomers.

According to sources in the Cabinet circles, mining king and former minister of Karnataka Gali Janardhan Reddy, who is closely associated with Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, is trying to influence the latter with regard to retaining Gali’s confidantes and followers in their posts.

Gummanuru Jayaram, a minister from Kurnool district, has close relations with Gali and approached him seeking a favour regarding retaining his ministry.

Sources in the YCP revealed that another minister belonging to Anantapur district also has begun attempts in the same manner.

Meanwhile, some others have started packing their bags even when they have not submitted their resignations yet. However, they have sufficient signals that they would be ousted and hence, readying to leave the camp offices and suggesting transfer of their peshi officials to the places of their choice.

There is buzz that ministers Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Botsa Styanarayana, Balineni Srinivasa Reddy and Buggana Rajendranath Reddy would be stripped off their ministries definitely. At the same time, there is discussion on likelihood of induction of former ministers Anam Ramanarayana Reddy, Dharmana Prasada Rao, Ananta Venkatrami Reddy, senior MLA Katasani Rambhupal Reddy into the new Cabinet.

In fact, the name of Anam and Dharmana were heard during formation of the Cabinet soon after the 2019 elections but did not take shape. There was talk that Nagari MLA Roja would certainly be inducted into the Cabinet but even that did not happen. Instead, she was given a nominated post as the chief of APIIC but later replaced with Mettu Govinda Reddy after two years. Roja is still hoping to secure a ministerial berth, at least this time but political analysts feel it would remain a dream.

Jagan had made it clear that the induction of new faces would be completely based on striking a balance between social communities in view of the 2024 general elections. However, some ministers are hoping against hope and putting in all their efforts to stick to their positions, by trying to go for recommendations from Jagan’s near and dear.