Though quite young, AP CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is surely a past-master in the art of maintaining a caste equilibrium. He ensured a caste balance while appointing five deputy CMs. He managed to achieve caste equations while giving ministers’ posts. In the process, he has annoyed several Reddy claimants like Roja, Chevireddy and others, who wanted to become ministers.

Now with the TTD chairperson YV Subba Reddy’s term coming to an end, he is planning to replace him with another Reddy. Subba Reddy, who is also a close relative of Jagan, was asked to stand down in the 2019 elections to make way for Magunta Srinivasulu Reddy the Ongole MP. This was a big sacrifice for the party. So, Jagan suitably rewarded him with the chairperson post of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam.

Similarly, former Nellore MP Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy to opted out of the contest in deference to Jagan’s request. Though his son was made a minister in Jagan’s cabinet, Mekapati is without any post of power. So, with YV Subba Reddy’s term as TTD chief expiring on June 23, YS Jagan is said to be mulling over replacing him with Mekapati Rajamohan Reddy.

So, what about YV Subba Reddy? If grapevine is to be believed, he would soon be inducted into the cabinet. With the term of several MLCs soon coming to an end, he is said to be planning to bring YV Subba Reddy into the Legislative Council and then make him a minister. Thus, a Reddy will replace Reddy and the caste balance would be maintained.

Even in the cabinet expansion, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy is likely to maintain the caste equations. For instance, a BC minister would be replaced with a BC candidate and a Vaisya with another Vaisya.