Hyderabad, May 26: With the stage set to reshuffle the state cabinet, former minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, has reportedly started lobbying for a ministerial berth following his defeat in Pulivendula Assembly byelection.
Mr Vivekananda Reddy, who was blamed for spoilsport in Pulivendula assembly bypoll, engaged in hectic political activity in Delhi since two days. He reportedly met the Congress president, Ms Sonia Gandhi’s political secretary, Mr Ahmed Patel and Congress affairs state in-charge Mr Gulam Nabi Azad seeking a berth in state cabinet. He explained to the Congress high command that his nephew, Mr Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and sister-in-law Y.S. Vijayalakshmi won with bumper majority in Kadapa Lok Sabha and Pulivendula Assembly byelections due to sympathy on late chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy’s untimely demise.
It is learnt that Congress high command reportedly inclined to induct Vivekananda Reddy into Cabinet, as there is no strong leader to check Jagan politically in the district. But some Congress leaders were blaming Vivekananda Reddy for Congress debacle in byelections though Congress high command refused to field candidate against Y.S. Vijayalakshmi and are opposing ministerial post to him.
Sources said that Congress could nominate Viveka to the MLC post in Governor’s quota. Mr Vivekananda Reddy reportedly explained to the high command that several schemes undertaken by his brother Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy would be suspended in the district if ministerial post was denied to him.
However, some Congress leaders opposing ministerial post to Viveka and seeking chairman post to him in state owned corporations.
–Agencies