Hyderabad: Ibrahimpatnam MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy called on the Congress high command to ensure fair representation in the newly expanded cabinet, urging that posts be allocated to all ten erstwhile districts of Telangana. He expressed disappointment that his own district, Ranga Reddy, had been overlooked despite playing a crucial role in the party’s survival over the years.
Speaking to reporters after a visit by PCC chief Mahesh Kumar Goud and minister Ponnam Prabhakar, Ranga Reddy said that despite his past loyalty and efforts to safeguard the Congress during tough times, his aspirations for a ministerial berth were sidelined. “We fought for ten years against the BJP. It was us who saved the Congress from collapse,” he said, lamenting that his plea had fallen on deaf ears.
He questioned the wisdom of giving two or three ministerial posts to certain districts while ignoring others that have not yet seen a single representative in the cabinet. “It’s unfair to award plum posts to a handful while denying representation to entire districts,” he remarked. Ranga Reddy also reminded the leadership that Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy together account for nearly 47% of the state’s population. “Hyderabad and Ranga Reddy are the lifeline of Telangana. Ignoring them is a mistake,” he warned.
The MLA made it clear that his demand stemmed not from personal ambition, but from the expectations of his supporters. “It’s the party workers who carried the Congress on their shoulders through difficult times,” he said. “If the high command keeps appointing newcomers to key positions, it will demoralise those who stood by the party when it needed them most.”
He urged the PCC leadership to allow him a chance to personally convey his concerns to the party high command. “If my social background stands in the way, I’m prepared to sacrifice any post for the sake of the party,” he declared, adding that he would abide by any decision Rahul Gandhi made on the matter. But he warned that ignoring legitimate demands could deepen the crisis in the party. “The leadership must not repeat mistakes,” he cautioned.
The developments come after the PCC chief and a cabinet minister met Ranga Reddy at his residence in a bid to pacify him. However, Ranga Reddy maintained that he was pressing for a cabinet post only in line with his supporters’ demands. “Without the backing of grassroots workers, it’s impossible to work,” he said.
He concluded by expressing frustration that despite bringing concerns to the attention of the high command, no corrective measures had been taken. “We will continue to work in line with the party, but the leadership must not forget the workers who stood by them,” he asserted.
