Revanth Reddy’s cabinet expansion: stalemate continues?

The much-anticipated expansion of Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s Congress-led cabinet has hit a roadblock, stalled by internal dissent and conflicting signals from the party high command.

A letter from senior Congress leader K. Jana Reddy to the All India Congress Committee (AICC) leadership has escalated tensions, with sources suggesting that Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, is displeased with recent developments within the Telangana Congress.

Initially planned for Ugadi on March 30, the cabinet expansion has remained in limbo for months. With six vacant berths in the 18-member council of ministers, intense lobbying by MLAs from Hyderabad, Ranga Reddy, Nizamabad, and various caste groups has fueled internal strife. The prolonged delay has frustrated party leaders and workers alike.

Jana Reddy’s letter

On March 31, 2025, veteran Congress leader K. Jana Reddy, a seven-time MLA from Nagarjuna Sagar, sent a strongly worded letter to AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and general secretary K.C. Venugopal. In it, he urged the high command to prioritize MLAs from Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy districts, which currently lack representation in the cabinet.

Sources indicate that Jana Reddy specifically endorsed Ibrahimpatnam MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy, arguing that his inclusion would strengthen the party’s position in urban strongholds ahead of upcoming elections.

“Several MLAs from these regions have sought ministerial positions, and addressing their appeals will benefit both the people and the party,” Jana Reddy wrote, according to insiders. The letter is being interpreted as an implicit challenge to Revanth Reddy’s leadership, with some viewing it as an attempt to pressure the chief minister into accommodating specific factions. This move has deepened divisions within the state unit, with rival groups accusing each other of sidelining deserving candidates.

Aspirants

The ongoing deadlock has left numerous ministerial aspirants in uncertainty, intensifying dissatisfaction at the grassroots level. Prominent names in contention include P. Sudarshan Reddy (Bodhan), Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy (Munugode), G. Vivek Venkatswamy (Chennur), Vakiti Srihari (Makthal), and Aadi Srinivas (Vemulawada). Calls for increased representation from Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Backward Classes (BC), and minority communities have further complicated the equation. MLAs from the Madiga, Lambadi, Goud, and Muslim communities have actively lobbied AICC leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan, to push their case.

The current cabinet, sworn in on December 7, 2023, includes 12 ministers, with a notable tilt toward the Reddy community (four ministers) and limited representation from other groups. This imbalance has fueled demands for a more inclusive expansion, but a lack of consensus has stalled decision-making. The stalled cabinet expansion has cast a shadow over Revanth Reddy’s 15-month-old government, which had gained recognition for its welfare initiatives. With the budget session concluded and public meetings planned to showcase the caste census, the chief minister had hoped to strengthen his team to accelerate governance. However, the current deadlock threatens to undermine that momentum, leaving Telangana Congress in a precarious position as it navigates internal power struggles and external expectations.