Cabinet berths only for those elected on Congress B-Form: Telangana CM Revanth Reddy

HYDERABAD: In a change of tack, chief minister A Revanth Reddy has closed the door on BRS MLAs joining Congress from getting a berth in the cabinet rejig, which is now likely to take place in the first week of July along with the selection of the new TPCC chief.
Revanth, who is still in Delhi, made it clear that "only those leaders who contested the elections on Congress B-forms" will get a look-in during the cabinet expansion.Revanth, who is expected to return to Hyderabad on Saturday, shared this at an informal chat with newspersons on Friday, following his meetings with AICC top leaders during his five-day stay in Delhi.
Those who joined Congress from other parties and contested either assembly or Lok Sabha election on party B-form stand a chance of making it into the cabinet, sources said.
Surprisingly, it was only on Thursday Revanth had ruled out immediate cabinet expansion and said it was all media's speculation that he would be undertaking such an exercise soon.
A senior AICC leader said the high command had decided to simultaneously finalise the new TPCC president and those likely to make it into the council of ministers of Revanth-led govt in the state. "It will take a few more days for finalisation of both the new TPCC president as well as the cabinet expansion. It will be done at the same time and announced. The decisions are likely to be announced in the first week of July," said the AICC leader.
Revanth, during his chat with reporters, said the new TPCC chief could be male or female from SC, ST, BC, minority or OC communities. "The party leadership will take into consideration social justice, caste equations and district representation, among other factors, while finalising the new TPCC chief as well as the candidates for cabinet berths. Both the decisions will be taken at the same time and soon," Revanth asserted.
Sources close to the CM said the names of B Mahesh Kumar Goud, Madhu Yaskhi Goud and Suresh Shetkar from BC community, AICC secretary SA Sampath Kumar and Damodar Raja Narasimha from SC community, Balram Naik and Seethakka from ST community were discussed for the TPCC chief post.
Revanth will complete three years as TPCC chief on July 7.
Likewise, the names of P Sudarshan Reddy, Komatireddy Raj Gopal Reddy, T Ram Mohan Reddy, T Jagga Reddy and Malreddy Ranga Reddy (Reddy community), V Srihari Mudiraj and Neelam Madhu (BC), Mohammed Ali Shabbir and Amer Ali Khan (Muslim) and Balu Naik and Ramachandra Naik (ST) were discussed for cabinet berths. "Four or five of the total six cabinet vacancies are likely to be filled up in the coming round of expansion," a source said. Sources said Revanth's assertion came as a huge relief to Congress originals and loyalists.