Shankar Rao skips cabinet meet

Handlooms and Textiles Minister Dr P Shankar Rao skipped the meeting of State Cabinet held at the State Secretariat here on Wednesday.

Dr Shankar Rao has been hitting the headlines by making controversial statements against Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy and other cabinet colleagues. However, many cabinet ministers on Wednesday complained to the Chief Minister about Dr Shankar Rao's behaviour. The Chief Minister has reportedly assured the ministers that he would take up the matter with the Congress High Command.

Meanwhile, Cooperation Minister Kasu Venkata Krishna Reddy and Social Welfare Minister Pithani Satyanarayana could not attend Wednesday's cabinet meeting as both of them were out of station.

The Minister started arriving at the C-Block since 3.45 pm and the cabinet meeting started at sharp 4 pm. However, Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Rajanarasimha came after the meeting started and left at about 5.10 pm. The Chief Minister left the C-Block at 6.10 pm.

During the meeting, the Chief Minister has reportedly asked his ministers to gear up to face tough questions related to drought situation in the State during the assembly session starting from Thursday. The cabinet also reviewed the conduct of second of phase of Rachabanda programme and the Rajiv Yuva Kiranulu job scheme.