By Arjun Sharma, Senior Political Correspondent with eight years covering Telangana politics
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Key Takeaways
- Date & Venue: On June 8, 2025, Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath at Raj Bhavan, Hyderabad news24online.com.
- New Ministers: Congress MLAs G. Vivek Venkata Swamy (Chennur), Adluri Laxman Kumar (Dharmapuri), and Vakiti Srihari (Makthal) joined the 17‑member cabinet economictimes.indiatimes.com.
- Cabinet Strength: The induction brings active ministers to 15, leaving three berths vacant (full strength permitted: 18) siasat.com.
- Social Justice Focus: The move underscores CM Revanth Reddy’s commitment to inclusive representation, with over 55% of portfolios now held by SC, ST, and BC leaders timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Background
Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy, in his first cabinet expansion since December 2023, welcomed three new faces to strengthen administrative outreach across key communities.
- G. Vivek Venkata Swamy – Veteran leader with Lok Sabha tenure (2009–14), now Minister for Labour & Employment timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
- Adluri Laxman Kumar – Advocate for SC‑Madiga rights, assigned SC, ST & Minorities Welfare timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
- Vakiti Srihari – BC‑Muduraj representative, given Animal Husbandry, Sports & Youth Services timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
Why Now?
- Political Balance: Aligns with Congress high command’s directive for caste and regional balance.
- Governance Needs: Adds experienced legislators to manage portfolios previously overseen by the CM.
- Election Watch: With several local body polls on the horizon, bolsters grassroots presence.
What Happens Next?
- Portfolio Notification: Official government order (GO) to specify departmental allocations and secretariats.
- Legislative Agenda: New ministers to present departmental budgets in upcoming monsoon session.
- Future Inductions: Three vacancies remain; names are expected after consultations with AICC leadership.
Evergreen Explainer: How Cabinet Expansion Works
- Constitutional Limit: State cabinets may include up to 15% of total Assembly strength (Telangana’s Assembly: 119 MLAs → max 18 ministers).
- Appointment Process: CM recommends names; Governor administers the oath of office and secrecy under Article 164 of the Constitution.
- Strategic Timing: Often timed to address governance gaps, appease party factions, or signal policy thrusts.
Fact‑Check
| Claim | Source |
|---|---|
| Three Congress MLAs sworn in on June 8, 2025 | Official swearing‑in ceremony report news24online.com |
| Cabinet strength now 15 of 18 permitted ministers | Telangana Today analysis telanganatoday.com |
| Portfolios allocated as social justice measures | Times of India portfolio allocation timesofindia.indiatimes.com |
| No resignations or defections triggered this expansion | No reports of MLAs resigning from other parties |
Daily Digest
- June 9: Budget session kicks off; new ministers to table key schemes.
- June 15: State‑level consultations on local body poll reservations.
- Later This Month: Three more cabinet berths likely to be filled.
