Deputy CM Post Elusive For Kanna Babu?

[Anta Assamey]

Ever since two Andhra Pradesh ministers Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose and Mopidevi Venkataramana were nominated as Rajya Sabha members, there have been a lot of speculations over the cabinet reshuffle by CM Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy.

One of the speculations is about the post of deputy chief minister which has fallen vacant following the resignation of Pilli Subhash Chandra Bose.

Right from the day one, there has been a talk that the deputy CM will be given to agriculture minister Kurasala Kanna Babu.

The party sources spread the talk that the elevation of agriculture minister Kanna Babu as deputy chief minister is more or less certain, as Jagan is very much impressed with the way he has been handling any responsibility entrusted on him, especially with regard to bringing normalcy in Visakhapatnam post-LG Polymers issue.

However, according to the latest speculation, Jagan has decided to give the deputy chief minister’s post to Dharmana Krishna Das, state minister for roads and buildings representing Narasannapet assembly constituency in Srikakulam district. 

Apart from being a staunch loyalist of the party and the party chief, Krishna Das’s elevation is also aimed at checkmating the so-called seniors in Srikakulam, including his own brother and former minister Dharmana Prasada Rao.

The Jagan already indicated the names of two new ministers Ch Venugopala Krishna from Ramachandrapuram in East Godavari district and Seediri Appala Raju from Palasa in Srikakulam district, who would be taking oath on Wednesday.

There might be a minor reshuffle in the portfolios in the cabinet. Krishna Dasu might be given some other portfolio, while Roads and Buildings would be given to Venugopala Krishna. Appala Raju might be given fisheries portfolio, sources said.