All right noises, faint murmurs of discontent in Congress

WHILE the long-awaited expansion of the Telangana Cabinet has been largely welcomed within the Congress, it has triggered a fresh round of political discussion within both the ruling party and the broader political landscape in the state.

- I. Reddy Srinivas Reddy @Hyderabad

The feeling within the party is that a genuine attempt has been made to ensure social representation by accommodating SC and BC legislators in the Cabinet. A large section of the Congress leadership has expressed satisfaction, describing the distribution of Cabinet berths along community lines as a conscious move designed to preserve the party's traditional support base among SC and BC communities.

Insiders said that they expect this to yield electoral dividends in the forthcoming local body and municipal elections.

Party leaders maintain that the Congress has balanced social equations despite intense lobbying from several senior MLAs hopeful of securing Cabinet posts.

The high command prioritised its broader strategy of equitable representation over individual aspirations, they say.

They also express optimism that the Cabinet expansion will energise the party cadre at the grassroots level.