Small 'list', HC's two-pronged strategy to test waters

The Secretariat Grapevine, an ever reliable source of information about the goings on in the government circles, says that a small list of 12 new faces, as a first instalment, are most likely to take oath of Office at Raj Bhavan.

The grapevine has it that this strategy has been adopted by the Centre as a means to test the waters and check the loyalties of the Legislators in the state.

The strategy will first hold the more optimistic party leaders back so that they wait for the next list before making noises of dissension.

The waiting period will also cool down the nervousness and allow time for those ministers who may have been shunted out to come to terms with reality.

Another important advantage to be gained by using this strategy will be to gauge the reaction of the YS Jaganmohan Reddy camp.

The interim period between the two lists will also make it clear to the High Command over the fence sitters who owe their loyalties to Mr Jaganmohan Reddy but were keeping a safe distance away from him since the proverbial carrot in the form of an expansion to the erstwhile Rosaiah Cabinet was within their sights.

The fence sitters will be keenly watched to see if they make any overtures to the Kadapa MP.

This would give new Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy a fairly good idea about the challenges ahead. As seen the whole lot aspiring for a berth in the Cabinet are currently camping in New Delhi.

Things have come to such a pass there that the AP Bhavan is packed to the brim. It is said that Mr Botsa Satayanarayana was denied a room. Most of the hotels there are doing brisk business.

Whatever the outcome, the AP 'event' is bound to produce an impact on the Delhiites and the foreigners there. They must be wondering what kind of mania is this - the longing for a berth, a Ministry. But then again, Delhiites may be used to this kind of political games.