Ministers refuse to attend CM meets

Hyderabad
Sept. 9: Certain ministers in the state Cabinet are openly defying and snubbing the Chief Minister, Mr K. Rosaiah, but he has decided to bide his time and keep quiet for the time being.

Two ministers, Mr N. Raghuveera Reddy (agriculture) and Mr Jupalli Krishna Rao (civil supplies minister), did not attend important meetings convened by Mr Rosaiah despite the Chief Minister’s office informing them beforehand.

These two, along with Ms Konda Surekha and Mr P. Ramachandra Reddy, had initially refused to take the oath afresh. Mr Raghuveera Reddy attended a condolence meeting in his district on Tuesday but skipped the meeting on release of water for the second crop under Nagarjunasagar dam.

On Wednesday, Mr Rao also missed a crucial meeting on prices of essential commodities. The commissioner of the department also skipped the meeting without prior notice. A thoroughly embarrassed Mr Rosaiah had to conclude the meeting in 10 minutes with available officials.

In another meeting, the health minister, Mr Danam Nagender, kept the CM waiting for 20 minutes. In the last Cabinet meeting, two ministers told Mr Rosaiah that he would come back to his old portfolio soon enough. The veteran leader just smiled.

Meanwhile, Mr Rosaiah will not clear important files until he gets a nod from the high command.