logo
Balancing push of castes and pull of vote banks

Balancing push of castes and pull of vote banks

Hans India09-06-2025
Hyderabad: Sending across the message that the long-term need of keeping the vote bank intact prevails over the immediate need to accommodate the interests of various competing communities, the Congress high command, going by the composition of the expanded cabinet, has accorded priority to Mala, Madiga and Mudiraj, with MLAs from these three castes being inducted into the state cabinet as ministers.
The appointments, while reflecting the Congress government's declared focus on social justice, comes amidst determined push by influential communities, including Reddy, Velama, Kamma andKapu, as well as a few dominant communities among the Backward Classes. Party legislators belonging to these communities were simply ignored in the cabinet expansion, notwithstanding the potential for trouble from disgruntled elements. Overall, the expansion exercise balances the push of castes and the pull of vote banks.
Anticipating a revolt from certain leaders of these communities, the party leaders have already started holding out the olive branch to the miffed senior leaders who, after all, had been dreaming, day and night, of becoming ministers in the cabinet expansion.
Noticeably, most of the disappointed aspirants for cabinet berths are from dominant communities. They include senior leaders P Sudhrshan Reddy (Bodhan MLA), MalreddyRanga Reddy (Ibrahimpatnam) and Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy (Munugode), who had lobbied strongly with the party high command for a berth in the cabinet expansion. Senior leader from Velama community K Premsagar Rao (Mancherial), Ellareddy MLA Madanmohan from Kamma caste and D Nagendar from Kapu community too had brought a lot of pressure on party leaders for berths. Curiously, the Congress leadership turned a deaf ear to these leaders' loaded pleas at the eleventh hour, sending another message that the long-pending cabinet expansion cannot be put off indefinitely in view of inevitable power struggle among MLAs representing various communities.
Leaders told The Hans Indiathat state Congress in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan boldly took the responsibility of the composition of the state cabinet and cherry-picked the candidates without succumbing to pressure from anyone. The emerging role of Mala and Madiga leaders assumed significance in the light of the recent enactment of a law relating to sub-categorization of the SC communities. This explains why MLAs G Vivek (Mala) and A Laxman (Madiga) got the opportunity. Considering the big vote bank of the Mudirajcommunity in the state, Makthal MLA V Srihari has been inducted.
With the induction of three new ministers, the strength of the Telangana cabinet rises to 12, including the Chief Minister. Against the full sanctioned strength of 18, six positions remained vacant, leaving room for further expansion. Following Sunday's swearing-in, three cabinet berths will continue to remain unfilled. 'Another three berths are still vacant. These will be filled by inducting MLAs from other communities 'at an appropriate time', sources said. 'The party will definitely recognize the services of all senior leaders at the right time,' a senior leader said. He confirmed that Meenakshi Natarajan and TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud were reaching out to the sulking senior leaders and convincing them to wait for 'some more time'. Rangareddy had already threatened to quit the party if he was not included in the list of new cabinet ministers. Sensing immediate trouble, Meenakshi, in a fire-fighting mode, spoke to the Ibrahimpatnam MLA and assured him of justice.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Hopeful of constructive monsoon session: Hemant
Hopeful of constructive monsoon session: Hemant

Time of India

time23 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Hopeful of constructive monsoon session: Hemant

1 2 Ranchi: With the monsoon session of Jharkhand Vidhan Sabha set to commence from Friday, chief minister Hemant Soren and speaker Rabindra Nath Mahato on Thursday remained hopeful that the session will be constructive and would address the issues of the people. Mahato on Thursday held a customary meeting with representatives of all the legislative parties to chalk out the modalities and House business. Soren, along with finance minister Radha Krishana Kishore, leader of opposition Babulal Marandi also attended the meeting. "Even though it is a short session, we are hopeful that it will be constructive with everyone's cooperation," Soren said after the meeting. Mahato on the other hand appealed all the members to maintain decorum during the session so that House business can be conducted smoothly. The week-long session will have five working days. The Soren govt is expected to table its first supplementary budget of the ongoing financial year. Ahead of the session, both the ruling and opposition camps are geared up to take on each other. While opposition BJP is scheduled to get into huddle on Friday to decide its course of action during the session, ruling alliance held a meeting under CM at his residence on Thursday night. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like NRIs Living In Belarus Are Eligible For INR 2 Lakh Monthly Pension. Invest 18K/Month Get Offer Undo On the other hand, Congress separately its own meeting of MLAs under the leadership of Poraiyahat MLA Pradeep Yadav, who is legislative party leader. Talking to reporters, Yadav said, "Congress here will also oppose Election Commission's special intensive revision of electoral rolls to undermine the voting rights of scores of common people in Bihar. In Jharkhand, we will oppose this. It has been decided to convince our alliance partners to bring a resolution against this and passed by the state assembly to send a strong message across the country. This apart, we shall take on the opposition based on our governance models and issues."

Terrorism was not saffron, will never be: CM
Terrorism was not saffron, will never be: CM

Time of India

time38 minutes ago

  • Time of India

Terrorism was not saffron, will never be: CM

Mumbai: Immediately after the special NIA court delivered its verdict in the Malegaon blast case, CM Devendra Fadnavis posted on social media, "Terrorism was not saffron, is not, will never be." State BJP leaders hailed the verdict and slammed Congress for use of the term "Hindu terror," while Dy CM and Shiv Sena chief Eknath Shinde said those who had coined the term 'saffron terror' had "got a slap in the face from the courts. " Speaking to the media, Fadnavis demanded the Congress apologise to the entire Hindu community. He said the Congress-led UPA govt had tried to set a false narrative about 'Hindu terrorism' to appease minorities during elections. "How false was the claim that there is 'Hindu terrorism,' 'saffron terror' has been exposed today," he said. "A conspiracy was hatched to show there is 'Hindu terrorism' by Congress and UPA, which the court has rejected with evidence," he said. Fadnavis is also state home minister. A week ago, on the train blasts case verdict of Bombay HC, he had said it was "shocking" and announced the state's intention to challenge it in SC, which it did the next day. You Can Also Check: Mumbai AQI | Weather in Mumbai | Bank Holidays in Mumbai | Public Holidays in Mumbai On Shiv Sena (UBT)'s question about who had carried out the blast if everyone has been acquitted, Fadnavis said police will respond to it. "What kind of investigation was done at the time will have to be asked to the agency at the time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like No More Belly Fat! A Few Minutes a Day Can Transform You! Learn More Undo The govt was of those with whom the Thackerays are aligned today, and it is their police that has done the investigation. My expectation was they should have complimented that the narrative of 'saffron terror' has been unsuccessful, but perhaps because they have gone with those who do appeasement they are asking these questions," he said. Fadnavis said he would not blame the police. The Congress-led UPA govt had hatched a conspiracy, and to fulfill it, there was pressure on the police machinery. "The police were working under pressure, and they were told there were several incidents of bomb blasts and worldwide a term 'Islamic terrorism' was coined after 9/11. In response to that or to convert the extremists into a votebank, a conspiracy was hatched to bring forth 'saffron terrorism' and appease the minorities by UPA. It is clear these cases have happened from these efforts. UPA more than the police is responsible for it," Fadnavis said. Revenue minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule said the verdict is an exposure of a long-running political conspiracy to defame Hindus. Shinde said, "The innocent have got justice. When arrests happened, UPA was in office. Netas then said terror has no colour but in the Malegaon case, they said it was saffron terror... This was a conspiracy and the accused were trapped in the conspiracy." He added, "We are taking forward Balasaheb Thackeray's Hindutva, so we will fight terror, support patriots."

SC recalls own order directing liquidation of Bhushan Steel
SC recalls own order directing liquidation of Bhushan Steel

Time of India

time38 minutes ago

  • Time of India

SC recalls own order directing liquidation of Bhushan Steel

NEW DELHI: In a dramatic yet decisive reversal, Supreme Court Thursday annulled its May 2 judgment ordering liquidation of Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd, which had been revived in 2021 by the Sajjan Jindal-led JSW through a Rs 20,000 crore plan concurrently upheld by NCLT and NCLAT under Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code process. Unabashedly admitting that its earlier decision militated against the settled law on inviolability of the decision of Committee of Creditors, a bench of CJI B R Gavai and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma recalled the verdict and posted the matter for fresh hearing next Thursday. The bench also frowned upon the use of Article 142 by the earlier bench led by Justice Bela M Trivedi, who has since retired, to order liquidation of the revived company despite it being in the pink of health. "Powers of Article 142 are meant to do complete justice and not cause injustice to 25,000 employees," the apex court said Thursday. SC's role in IBC proceedings limited, says CJI In an open court hearing on the review petitions filed by Punjab National Bank, the lead creditor for bankrupt Bhushan Power and Steel Ltd, and JSW, solicitor general Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Neeraj Kishan Kaul told a bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma that IBC proceedings aim to revive sick companies and liquidation is only the last resort. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Mini House for 60 sqm for Seniors with Toilet and Bath (Price May Surprise You) Pre Fabricated Homes | Search Ads Search Now Undo The CJI said he has, as an SC judge, authored many judgments crystallising disparate rulings on IBC proceedings to lay down the cardinal principle that concurrent approval by NCLT and NCLAT of a revival plan accepted by the CoC cannot be interfered with by SC unless the petitioner challlenging it establishes a perversity. The verdict in the Bhushan Steel and Power Ltd case appears to be in the teeth of SC rulings. Mehta said IBC proceedings were followed to the T and it was the decision of the CoC to approve the revival plan of successful resolution professional, which was concurrently upheld by National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) and the appellate tribunal (NCLAT) leaving little scope for SC interference. "Liquidating a viable and profit-making entity will be in the interest of none and would create many difficulties for the creditors as well as the successful resolution applicant," he argued. Kaul said JSW has infused an additional Rs 8,000 crore apart from the Rs 20,000 crore, and the company is now in robust health nearly tripling its productions. It now employs 25,000 people in the revived plant. On May 26, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Sharma had stayed the liquidation process and ordered status quo after learning that petitions seeking review of the May 2 judgment are pending consideration.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store