One each for five different social communities — BCs, SCs, STs, minorities and Kapus

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S.Jagan Mohan Reddy announced on Friday that there will be five Deputy Chief Ministers in his 25-member Cabinet, which will be sworn in on Saturday.

Speaking to 151 YSR Congress Party candidates who were elected to the Assembly but have not yet been sworn in and seven MLCs at the second YSR Congress Legislature Party meeting at the Tadepalli party office, Mr. Reddy said the Deputy Chief Minister posts would be given to five MLAs-elect belonging to the Backward Classes, the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes, the minorities and Kapus respectively. The Kapu community has been agitating to be included in the Backward Classes.

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Mr. Reddy met Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan, who came here from Hyderabad in the evening for the swearing-in of the Cabinet, and submitted to him the list of 25 legislators to be sworn in as Ministers on Saturday.

While the Chandrababu Naidu Cabinet had two Deputy CMs — one BC (K.E. Krishnamurthy) and a Kapu (Ch. China Rajappa) — Mr. Reddy has increased the number to five by adding representatives from the Scheduled Castes, the Scheduled Tribes and the minorities to the list.

Mr. Reddy told the legislators that 90% of the Cabinet members would be replaced after two and a half years to give a chance to as many members as possible. While it was not possible for all 151 MLAs to become Ministers, nearly double the number of 25 could be accommodated through this rotation system.

The YSRCP legislators said Mr. Jagan in his speech indicated that the purpose behind having five Deputy Chief Ministers was to ensure that these sections get the priority they deserve.

As many as 35 MLAs expressed support to the proposal to have more Dy.CMs and a new Cabinet after half term. Some of the seniors were reportedly in tears out of joy after listening to Mr. Jagan’s announcement on the Cabinet.

Party candidate, who won from Santhanuthalapadu constituency, T.J.R. Sudhakar Babu told the media that much lip service had been paid to the subject of social justice in the past but Mr. Jagan had elevated himself to the level of social reformers like Jyothirao Phule by giving the Deputy CM posts to Minorities, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.