Despite the Minister for Irrigation and Legislative Affairs T Harish Rao's assertion yesterday that there was no truth in the reports in a section of the media about an impending State Cabinet reshuffle, there was intense speculation over the issue among the ruling TRS legislators today.
Though Harish Rao is close to the Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao and is also his relative, his statement is not being taken seriously by some of the TRS leaders and legislators.
Senior leaders of the party are of the opinion that a reshuffle of the State Cabinet is quite possible in the next one week or ten days, and certainly before the Dassera festival.
The leaders feel that the Chief Minister might induct two or three new faces by dropping an equal number of incumbent ministers, after the TRS legislature party meeting scheduled to take place on Thursday.
The induction of a woman MLA into the cabinet also appears to be certain this time. K Eshwar is also tipped for a position, as KCR himself had assured him of it at a public meeting some time back.
With regard to the dropping of ministers, it is said that a minister from the city (Hyderabad) will face the axe, as there is over-representation from the city in the Cabinet.
The TRS chief has already announced his decision to fill up the nominated posts like the heads of market committees, State government corporations etc. A decision on the nominated posts is also expected to be taken within the next three days.