A mini-cabinet reshuffle in Andhra Pradesh is on the cards for quite sometime now. The reshuffle is necessiated for two reasons - one reason is that two PRP MLAs from Chiranjeevi group are to be accommodated in the Cabinet and the second one is, Kiran Kumar Reddy feels, since he has completed one year as CM, he should be allowed to have a team of his own.

Cabinet reshuffle is a routine exercise done in all states and the Center from time to time. But this one in Andhra Pradesh has become a complicated issue. Kiran Kumar is facing two problems in carrying on with the reshuffle. One of the two legislators picked up by Chiranjeevi for cabinet berths, C Ramachandraiah is a Member of the Lesigislative Council (MLC). Moreover, his candidature is strongly opposed by the senior Congress leaders of Kadapa district for various reasons, includind the allegation that he is a Jagan man.

Even Kiran Kumar Reddy is himself said to be against accommodating C Ramachandraiah in his cabinet. His ground for opposaing Ramacahandraiah is, if an MLC is taken into the cabinet, it will lead to considerable heartburn among several senior Congress members of the Upper House, including D Srinivas, Singam Basavapunnaiah, Paladugu Venkata Rao and Chengal Venkata Rayudu, who have not been considered for ministerial posts due to policy of not accommodating MLCs. Lucklily there's no resistance for the other PRP candidate Anakapalle MLA Ghanta Srinivasa Rao and he can find a place in the Cabinet.

According to sources, CM Kiran Kumar Reddy also wants to have a free hand in the reshuffle, for he wants to replace some of the ministers who has been lately causing embarrassment to him. Even if the party high command may not entertain his request to sack housing minister Botcha Satyanarayana, he wants P Shankar Rao (Textiles) and DL Ravindra Reddy (Medical and Health), Kasu Krishna Reddy (Cooperation) and Thota Narasimham (Stamps and Registration) to be dropped.

Sources said if DL is allowed to be dropped, the chief minister wants C Adinarayana Reddy (Jammalamadugu, Kadapa) be roped in. Similarly, if Shankar Rao is asked to leave, Kiran Reddy wants the party high command to examine the names of either G Kuthuhalamma (Gangadhar Nellore, Chittoor) or G Prasada Kumar (Vikarabad) or Kondru Murali Mohan (Rajam, Srikakulam) for replacement since all of them belong to Scheduled Castes. Kiran Kumar is seeking replacement of Ramreddy Ventaka Reddy (Horticulture) with his brother Ramreddy Damodar Reddy (Suryapet, Nalgonda).