In a first of its kind of experiment, Andhra Pradesh’s new Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, will appoint five deputies in the newly formed government.
The announcement has elicited awe, especially after the Chief Minister told his party leaders that his five deputies would represent five marginalised communities — Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, minorities and the agrarian Kapu community.
The five deputy chief ministers and a full 25-member cabinet will take the oath of office on Saturday.
Reddy reportedly told his legislators that contrary to expectations that the Reddy community, to which he belongs, would get a lion’s share in the state government, the new cabinet will predominantly comprise members from the weaker sections of society.
The previous TDP government headed by N Chandrababu Naidu had two deputy chief ministers, one each from the Kappu and other backward classes.
In the just-concluded elections, Reddy’s party, the YSR Congress, with the help of election strategist Prashant Kishore, virtually wiped out rival Chandrababu Naidu’s TDP by winning 151 out of 175 seats in the state assembly and 22 of the 25 Lok Sabha seats.
Reddy is charged about fulfilling the promises made in the run-up to the polls, including hiking up pension for senior citizens, Rs 12,500 per year as investment support to each farmer in the state, fee reimbursement for students up to Rs 1.5 lakh per year, Rs 15,000 to mothers who send children to school, free borewells in parched villages and to need farmers and interest-free agriculture loans, etc.
All of this is estimated to cost the state government a fortune, which is already reeling under a debt of Rs 2.97 lakh crore. Thus Reddy is said to be looking at cooperation from the Centre.
The Power Of Five
- Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy said the five deputy chief ministers would represent marginalised communities: Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Backward Classes, minorities and the agrarian Kapu community
- The previous Telegu Desam Party government, headed by N Chandrababu Naidu, that held majority in the state had two deputy chief ministers, one to represent the Kappu community and the other from a Backward Class.
