Sabita Reddy is AP's first woman home minister

For the first time, a woman has become the home minister of Andhra Pradesh.

Chief minister, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, has allocated the home portfolio to Sabita Indra Reddy, a third time legislator from the neighbouring Rangareddy district. Incidentally, her husband, late P Indra Reddy, had also served as the home minister of the state.

Forty-six-year-old Sabita Indra Reddy plunged into politics following the sudden demise of her husband in an accident. She was first elected to the Assembly from Chevella in the year 2000. In the 2009 elections, she had to change her constituency due to delimitation and successfully contested from Maheshwaram.

Nevertheless, Chevella has a special place in the heart of Rajasekhara Reddy. In 2004, he started his 'Pada Yatra' from Chevella following which he came to power. Again, in 2009, he launched his election campaign from Chevella and retained power in the state.

Due to the brotherly affection showered on her by the chief minister, Sabita Indra Reddy also earned the sobriquet ‘Chevella Chellamma’ (younger sister). She had been the minister for mines and geology in the previous government.

On Tuesday, the chief minister allotted portfolios to all the 35 members who were inducted into his ministry. Among the old timers, K Rosaiah, D Prasada Rao, P Lakshmaiah and N Raghuveera Reddy have retained their portfolios of finance, revenue, major irrigation and agriculture respectively.