It is learnt that the decision was made after the BJP national leadership brought pressure on Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu. Naga Babu is being accommodated in the cabinet in lieu of a Rajya Sabha seat to BJP.
Published Dec 10, 2024 | 2:08 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 10, 2024 | 2:49 PM
Naga Babu.
The TDP in Andhra Pradesh on Monday, 9 December, announced the induction of Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan’s brother and actor Naga Babu alias Nagenddra Babu into the state Cabinet.
It is learnt that the decision was made after the BJP national leadership brought pressure on Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.
The BJP’s intervention to get Naga Babu into the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet is seen as part of the saffron party’s larger game plan to strengthen Pawan Kalyan’s presence in the state.
The BJP is understood to have persuaded Naidu to take Naga Babu into the Cabinet after the Jana Sena drew a blank in the apportionment of the three seats of Rajya Sabha, that fell vacant after the resignation of YSRCP members, among the three NDA partners — TDP, Jana Sena and BJP.
It is said that Pawan Kalyan wanted to send Naga Babu to Rajya Sabha in one of the three vacancies but the TDP wanted to retain two seats and BJP was keen on having one.
As an act of making it good to Pawan Kalya, the BJP is understood to have asked Naidu to take Naga Babu into his Cabinet.
The BJP has fielded Backwards Class (BC) leader R Krishnaiah to the lone seat that went in its favour. The saffron party’s strategy seems to be to gain traction among the BC by sending Krishnaiah to Rajya Sabha.
Recently, Pawan Kalyan met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah and sought the saffron party’s help in getting one of the three Rajya Sabha berths to Jana Sena.
Since the BJP was keen on having one of the three seats to itself, and TDP wanted two seats, the leadership asked Naidu to accommodate Naga Babu into the cabinet.
At present, the Andhra Pradesh Cabinet has 24 members against the maximum permissible limit of 25. The remaining berth is now being filled by Naga Babu.
Jana Sean has three members in the cabinet including Pawan Kalyan, who is the deputy chief minister and minister for Forest & Environment and Rural Development. The others are Tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh and Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar.
As Naga Babu is neither an MLA nor an MLC, it has been decided to take him to the legislative council within the next six months.
Naga Babu might get the portfolio of Mines and Geology, which is being held by Kollu Ravindra who might be given another portfolio.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
