Pawan’s brother Nagababu in AP Cabinet

Unexpected political development in Andhra Pradesh politics surprised the public. Deputy Chief Minister K Pawan Kalyan’s brother and Jana Sena Party (JSP) General Secretary Nagendra Babu will be inducted into AP Cabinet. 

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu made announcement in this regard on Monday night.

Naga Babu was expected to contest the Lok Sabha elections from Anakapalle. But he had to compromise when the constituency was offered to the BJP as part of the seat-sharing deal. 

TDP-led NDA registered a massive victory in the state, when there was speculation that Naga Babu would be appointed as the Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD). Later his name was in the Rajyasabha proposals list. 

His induction into the state cabinet has come as a surprise. 

The JSP had won all 21 Assembly seats and two Parliament seats it contested. It was promised four berths in the Cabinet. However, at the time of the swearing-in ceremony, only three JSP leaders, including Pawan Kalyan, were inducted into the cabinet. 

As Nagababu is not an MLA currently, he is required to become a member of the Legislative Assembly or Council within six months from taking oath as minister. 

He will be nominated to the Legislative Council as there will be four vacancies once the Chairman approves the resignations pending with him. In July, the Chief Minister filled 24 seats and left one vacant, which will now be occupied by Naga Babu.