Hyderabad: A long-cherished dream of bagging a ministerial berth has ended in bitter disappointment for Munugode MLA Komatireddy Rajagopal Reddy, as Sunday’s Telangana cabinet expansion came and went without his name on the final list. The omission has left him fuming, with sources revealing that he left his Jubilee Hills residence at dawn and retreated to his farmhouse in Moinabad, cutting off contact with party leaders.
Rajagopal Reddy’s anger has been simmering since Sunday morning, when the cabinet swearing-in ceremony dashed his hopes yet again. Despite months of speculation – and strong expectations that he would secure a spot – he was left out. Senior party leader Gaddam Vivek made an attempt to console him by visiting his home on Sunday morning, only to find he’d already departed for the farmhouse.
Party affairs in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan and PCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud reportedly tried to reach Rajagopal Reddy by phone, but he remained unreachable throughout the day. According to sources, Rajagopal Reddy is incensed at what he sees as a betrayal of promises made to him during the Lok Sabha elections. Party strategists had reportedly dangled the prospect of a cabinet berth before him if he could get Bhuvanagiri MP candidate Chamala Kiran Kumar Reddy across the finish line. Staying true to his commitment, he poured both his energy and substantial financial resources into the campaign, ultimately helping Chamala clinch victory. But despite that win, his promised ministerial position remains out of reach.
Insiders say Rajagopal Reddy now suspects a conspiracy within the party is keeping him sidelined. He believes certain senior leaders, including Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, are actively blocking his way. Determined to fight back, he’s planning to take the matter straight to AICC general secretary KC Venugopal and Meenakshi Natarajan in a bid to force the issue.
The roots of his frustration run deep. Rajagopal Reddy had long expected the cabinet post, despite the fact that his elder brother, Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, already holds a ministerial position from the same district. Party sources say this overlap has complicated matters. Even Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is said to have raised concerns over awarding two cabinet posts to one family from the same district, fearing it would send the wrong message. Apparently, Rahul had previously made it clear that if Rajagopal were to be given a ministerial berth, his brother would have to step aside – a move that has so far failed to materialise.
Adding fuel to the fire is the comparison Rajagopal Reddy draws with Gaddam Vivek’s family, where both his son and brother hold elected positions, and now Vivek himself has secured a cabinet berth. “If Vivek can get a post despite having two family members in politics, why can’t I?” he reportedly questioned. He also reminded party leaders that he had sacrificed his wife’s MP ticket bid to avoid conflicts within the party and instead supported Chamala’s victory – a decision he now feels has backfired.
In the aftermath of the cabinet expansion, Rajagopal Reddy is said to be seething at what he calls a deliberate attempt to keep him out every time. He suspects a concerted effort by some ministers – and even the chief minister – to block his elevation. Determined to take the matter to the party’s top leadership, he plans to confront KC Venugopal and Meenakshi Natarajan in the coming days.
