AP: Cabinet rejig in offing to check drift

HYDERABAD: Upbeat after the smooth victory of its nominee for the post of the Speaker, the Congress central leadership seems to be preparing for an overhaul of the party and the cabinet in the State in its bid to stave off the threat from the Jagan Mohan Reddy camp.Though a section within the Congress is of the view that it may not be a bad idea to go for even a vote of confidence, the other view is that the Speaker’s election with a clear majority is itself an indirect reflection of the strength of the ruling party and therefore, a confidence vote is not required. Probably with this at the back of his mind, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy favoured a division of vote for the election of the Speaker rather than making it a mere formality.The Jagan campers, after making too much noise ahead of the election, finally cowered before the threat of disqualification and silently stood in favour of Nadendla Manohar’s candidature when voting was taken up for the election of the Speaker.According to sources, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy is being advised by his Cabinet colleagues and others that this is the best time for his government to emerge out of the shadows and get going, rather than face political challenges on a daily basis.What the Congress leadership, both here and in Delhi, is looking at is an overhaul -- that would erase the current impression that this is a government which is adrift. Having filled the posts of Speaker and Deputy Speaker, the party will soon nominate the chief for the Pradesh Congress Committee.Simultaneously, a revamp of the Cabinet is also expected. Apart from the induction of MLAs belonging to the Praja Rajyam, quite a few fresh faces are likely to get Cabinet berths and some of the existing ministers might be shown the door.PRP chief Chiranjeevi left for Delhi soon after the Speaker’s election for a meeting with incharge of the Congress affairs in Andhra Pradesh Ghulam Nabi Azad and other senior leaders to discuss the formal merger of his party with the Congress. Chiranjeevi might be accommodated in the Union Cabinet.