You’ve been hearing it for months reports that Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu plans to reshuffle his cabinet. He even showed frustration over the performance of a few Ministers. Yet, the reshuffle hasn’t happened.
Eight months ago, Naidu announced he would bring Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s brother, Naga Babu, into the cabinet. Though Naga Babu was elected as an MLC, he still hasn’t been inducted.
The announcement triggered strong reactions. If Naga Babu joins, Janasena will have three Kapu Ministers among its four cabinet members. The fourth, Nadendla Manohar, belongs to the Kamma community – making the caste balance a sensitive topic.
Adding to the tension, Naga Babu had earlier made sharp comments against the TDP and Balakrishna. Many in the TDP aren’t happy about his inclusion, and that’s why his induction is on hold.
But that’s not Naidu’s only dilemma. Nandamuri Balakrishna, too, expects a cabinet post this time. Party voices pushing for his induction are louder than ever before.
If Naidu brings Balakrishna in, it will revive accusations of family and caste politics. Leaving either of them out could also deepen internal rifts. It’s a political tightrope.
Naidu’s government has completed just over a year and a half. A reshuffle this early could send confusing signals to the public. Waiting until the two-year mark might make the move seem more practical – giving current Ministers time to correct their course.
For now, Naidu seems to have shelved the reshuffle idea. Still, the Naga Babu, Balakrishna tug-of-war will keep haunting him until the cabinet expansion actually happens.
The smartest move would be to convince both men to step aside. But will Naidu be able to pull that off? Balakrishna is said to agree only if Naga Babu is dropped too. To make that happen, Naidu will have to talk it out with the Deputy CM – coalition politics makes it tricky.
