Cabinet expansion was inevitable: Botsa

Pradesh Congress Committee president Botsa Satyanarayana on Tuesday asked the senior leaders in the party not to get disheartened for their non-inclusion into the Council of Ministers.

Talking to reporters at Gandhi Bhavan, Botsa said that the induction of three ministers into the State Cabinet was inevitable to maintain regional balance and to quell the criticism that injustice was done to particular regions. Therefore, Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy has included three ministers in his council on Monday.

Botsa assured that the services of senior leaders would be utilised for the party and the government, as and when required. Therefore, he requested the leaders not to express their displeasure in open. He said steps would be taken to ensure that leaders across the State do not feel ignored by the party.

The PCC chief also defended the proposal to elevate erstwhile Praja Rajyam Party president K Chiranjeevi as the party's Deputy floor leader in the legislative assembly.

Speaking about the IAS officials, Botsa said that they always work as per the Rule Book. He said if ministers were indulging in some irregularities then they would go to prison. However, he said the IAS officials alone should be held responsible for the individual decisions.

Botsa also slammed Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu for accusing Congress party of indulging in corruption. Denying Naidu's allegations that he prevented the Anti-Corruption Bureau from conducting raids on the liquor syndicate in north Andhra, Botsa said Naidu should first clear the charges of corruption that he has been facing, before speaking about the ruling party.