THE INDUCTION of two `Kapus’ from actor-turned politician Chiranjeevi’s camp into state cabinet has created a big hue and cry among Congress circles. The former minister Gade Venkata Reddy openly questioned giving representations to `Kapus’ in such a large number, ignoring genuine claims of predominant Reddy community. According to him as many as 9 Kapus are now in the state cabinet, as against their numerical strength of 19 in number among Congress MLAs.

He only came out openly. But such disconnect started among Congress circles immediately after formation of Coordination Committee, headed by State Congresss incharge and union minister Gulab Nabi Azad. In this committee as many as three Kapus are accommodated. They are PCC Chief Botsa Satyanarayana, Chiranjeevi and former PCC chief D Srinivas. The lone representative from Reddy community is Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, due to his official position.

This was a rude shock to Reddys in Congress party. This was mostly due to the impression that most of Reddys are now with Y S R Congress chief Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, who had revolted against Congress high-command. But Gade Venkata Reddy felt that this was a conspiracy to push Reddys out of Congress. According to him, only 6 Reddy MLAs are in Jagan Mohan Reddy camp and as many as 55 Reddy MLAs are in Congress.

After the death of Rajasekhara Reddy, Jagan Mohan Reddy’s unilateral attempt to become Chief Minister angered Sonia Gandhi. Since then, it seems, she is slowly attempting to put an end to Reddy domination in Congress party here. Only due to this reason both Jagan Mohan Reddy and Kiran Kumar Reddy were impatient towards giving importance to Chiranjeevi in Congress party.

By picking up Chiranjeevi, Congress high command has given a clear-cut signal that it will no more depend on Reddy leadership and attempts to strengthen Kapu leadership within the party and also the government. As Kapus as numerically more, it felt, Congress can survive Jagan Mohan Reddy’s onslaught with their support.

According to political observers, Kiran Kumar Reddy’s short-sightedness towards blowing caste equations in the state added fuel to injuries. His unilateral action of keeping all important portfolios among Reddy ministers and delaying process of inducting Chirnajeevi’s nominees into state cabinet is leading to restlessness among other communities.

On the day of State Congress Coordination Committee meeting chaired by Gulab Nabi Azad, the statements of two MPs and one former minister on caste politics assume significance. Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao lamented over negligence of Kammas by Congress. In the present scenario, he openly declared that the chances of winning agaon in 2014 would be very slim. He said that the Kamma community, which had been with the Congress since 1983 and took on Teleugu Desam founder and former chief minister NT Rama Rao, was unfortunately being neglected now.

Rao said: “Kammas have been supporting the Congress for decades. But, if by- elections are held in the Macherla and Prattipadu Assembly constituencies, the winning chances of the party's candidates will be slender.'' He said his community members were scoffing at him and other leaders for remaining silent even though injustice was being done to them. “Even if the party offers us posts now, we will not take them. But we will remain in the party.'' he said.

Amalapuram MP Harsha Kumar, young SC leader, also came down heavily on Congress Ghulam Nabi Azad for giving proper representation to Scheduled Classes in the committee. Stating there was no need to give prominence to Praja Rajyam Party by inducting two ministers from Kapu community, he feared that the Dalit community would disassociate itself from the Congress with this move. He asked Azad to explain Why Mala community was not given proper representation in the Cabinet, which brought Congress to power in 2009 elections. He asked as to why the Chief Minister did not fill up the ministerial berth, which fell vacant due to sacking of Dr P Shankar Rao, with the member of same community. He said the Congress party should not neglect the BC, SC and ST communities.

Former Minister Gade Venkat Reddy openly questioned attitude of marginalizing Reddy community within Congress community. According to him, Reddy’s are dominating political scene in as many as 14 districts. He lamented that by alleging Reddy’s are now going with Jagan Mohan Reddy, party leadership is attempting to sideline them. “Do you want push us away from the party?” he asked.