Mon Dec 09 18:20:00 UTC 2024: **Andhra Pradesh: Nagendra Babu to Join State Cabinet in Exchange for Rajya Sabha Seat**

AMARAVATI, December 10, 2024 – Jana Sena Party president and Andhra Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan’s brother, K. Nagendra Babu, is set to join the state cabinet. This comes as a result of a deal struck between coalition partners, offering him a ministerial post in exchange for relinquishing a Rajya Sabha seat.

Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu announced the decision late Monday night. Pawan Kalyan had requested a Rajya Sabha seat for his brother from the three vacancies currently available due to upcoming by-elections. However, the BJP and TDP cited prior commitments to other candidates, making a Rajya Sabha seat impossible. The BJP stated a prior commitment to R. Krishnaiah, deemed crucial for outreach to BC communities in Telangana. The TDP had already promised one of its two allocated seats to Bida Mastan Rao, who had resigned from the Rajya Sabha, and the other to party leader Sana Satish of Kakinada district.

Pawan Kalyan pointed out that the Anakapalli Lok Sabha seat had been allocated to the Jana Sena but was sacrificed for the BJP. As a compromise, the coalition decided to offer Nagendra Babu a cabinet position. While there is currently one cabinet vacancy, Nagendra Babu is not currently a member of either the Legislative Assembly or Council. While he can be appointed a minister immediately, he will be required to win a seat in either house within six months. The possibility of an MLC seat being offered to him before or after his appointment as minister remains uncertain. Several MLC seats are expected to become vacant in March.

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