Camp or Secretariat, CM keen on Cabinet meets

Pending files, deteriorating law and order situation, second round of Rachabanda and implementation of welfare schemes are among a few items in the long agenda that the Chief Minister Mr. N.Kiran Kumar Reddy wants to discuss and finalise with his council of ministers. However, most of his team-mates are not serious about this.

The next cabinet meeting is scheduled to be held on August 16. However, with the Telangana ministers refusing to attend the meeting at Secretariat, the Chief Minister has even agreed to change the venue. Therefore, for the first time ever, the state cabinet meeting will be held at the CM's camp office on August 16. But there are indications that some ministers might skip the meet.

With the Assembly Speaker Mr. N. Manohar rejecting the resignations of all Telangana legislators, the resignation submitted by 12 Telangana ministers too has lost relevance. However, still fearing a backlash from the Telangana protagonists, the ministers from Telangana regions expressed reservations in attending a cabinet meeting, if held at the State Secretariat.

However, the Chief Minister is keen on having a full-fledged cabinet meet on August 16, to resolve major issues especially the issue of pending files at the ministers' secretariat. Following intensification of Telangana agitation, many minsters from the region have not cleared their files for since July first week. The non-clearance has led to piling up of huge files in important ministries. The Chief Minister is said to have placated them to clear the files at the earliest as it was sending a wrong message among the people and the implementation of welfare schemes was taking a back seat.

However, several apprehensions are being raised over the conduct of cabinet meeting on August 16. One Minister Komatireddy Venkata Reddy has openly ruled out his participation in the meet while questioning its rationale.

Some ministers loyal to YS Jagan Mohan Reddy too are unhappy with the Chief Minister, especially in view of the ongoing CBI enquiry into his assets. The Andhra Pradesh High Court has recently given its nod to the CBI for a detailed investigation into the alleged illegal wealth that Jagan Mohan Reddy has amassed.

However, Chief Minister looks keen to discuss the possible outcome of all these political developments on August 16. Sources say that the cabinet meet would be held, even if some ministers decide to skip.