Guntur MP Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, on Wednesday, stated the Cabinet expansion was delayed due to the Assembly elections in Bihar and the political crisis in the BJP-ruled Karnataka.
When asked if tainted or inefficient ministers would be dropped in the reshuffled Cabinet, the MP said that this was Rosaiah's prerogative and that he would decide whether to continue with them or drop them.
Earlier, Rayapati had demanded that the Chief Minister resign if he cannot sack corrupt ministers.
Reacting to the defamation suit for Rs. 1 crore filed in Guntur district Court against him on behalf of the Major Industries Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana, Rayapati stated that he had heard about the case through the media. He denied receiving any court notice over the case.
"I have not received court notice so far. I will react only after receiving the court copy," he said.
Major Industries Minister Kanna Lakshminarayana had filed the defamation suit against Rayapati after the latter had alleged that the minister was involved in large-scale corruption.
Earlier, the minister had served a legal notice and given Sambasiva Rao 3 days to show proof about the allegations made against him. Lakshminarayana's advocate Sanjeeva Reddy had then proceeded to file the suit.