While continuing the thrust on social inclusivity, the constitution of the new Cabinet in April 2022 has sought to further consolidate a new social base, which has propelled the YSR Congress Party to a remarkable win in the general elections held in 2019.
If the constitution of the first Cabinet was an indication of the vision of Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy to create a new social base, where five MLAs belonging to BC, SC, ST and minorities had been elevated as Deputy Chief Ministers and 14 MLAs belonging to BC, SC, ST, minorities as Ministers, the second Cabinet had further increased the representation given to BC, SC, ST and minorities.
Out of the 25 MLAs chosen as Ministers, 11 belong to the BC communities, five MLAs belong to SCs, one belongs to STs and four are women.
The YSRCP had a solid voter base constituting the SC, Reddy and minorities but the 2019 elections witnessed a remarkable consolidation of the BC vote. Out of the 175 Assembly seats the party won 151 seats with an overwhelming vote share of 51%, decimating the opposition parties.
Three years later, Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy had scripted history by allotting 17 Cabinet berths to 11 MLAs belonging to BC communities, five from SCs and one from STs. The percentage of MLAs belonging to BC, SC, ST, minorities in the new Cabinet is now 70%.
The new Cabinet is a mix of youthful exuberance and experience with Mr. Jagan Mohan Reddy deciding to continue 11 Ministers.
MLA of Vizianagaram Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy has been elevated as Deputy Speaker, Malladi Vishnu has been appointed as deputy chairman of Planning Board and Mudunuri Prasada Raju has been given the post of Chief Whip of AP Assembly.
