TRS likely to join govt in Andhra

After successfully bargaining for the cabinet berths at the Centre, the Telangana Rashtriya Samiti (TRS) is all set to join the Andhra Pradesh cabinet. The party is also understood to be eyeing for the deputy speaker's post.

"Our presence in the government will help achieve our goal of a separate Telangana faster. It will be wise to join the government," senior TRS leader Santhosh Reddy said.

TRS, which won five of the six Lok Sabha seats it contested, has two representatives in the Union cabinet "" TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao getting a cabinet berth, and his deputy A Narendra being the minister of state.

Rao, who was also elected to the Assembly from Siddipet and elected Legislature Party leader, will be quitting the seat.

It is likely that the TRS may ask for five cabinet berths in the state cabinet and also put forth its demand for deputy speaker's post, party sources said. Chief minister Y S Rajsekhara Reddy, who formed his 24-member cabinet leaving much room for expansion, left some of the districts unrepresented, dissent in the cabinet notwithstanding.