After a brief period, speculations have started doing rounds again on the possibility of YSR Congress party president and Andhra Pradesh chief minister reshuffling his council of ministers sometime this month.
According to these speculative reports in a section of media, Jagan is contemplating reshuffling the state cabinet on February 16 or 22, apparently before the commencement of the budget session of the state assembly.
Jagan is learnt to have consulted the Visakha Sarada Peetham seer Swamy Swaroopanandendra and he has suggested these two muhurtams.
Since Magha month is very auspicious for taking up any new initiative, he is learnt to have advised Jagan to take up the cabinet reshuffle.
Sources said Jagan might not completely overhaul his cabinet, but might retain a few senior ministers whose experience would help him in the administration.
In all probability, seniors like Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, Botsa Satyanarayana, Balineni Srinivas Reddy and Buggana Rajendranath Reddy might retain their cabinet berths.
A couple of junior ministers like Kurasala Kanna Babu and Perni Venkatramaiah also might be lucky to continue in their posts, unless Jagan has other plans, sources said.
Since the government is planning to have new districts with effect from April 2, the new ministers would be in a position to get adjusted to their duties by then.
In fact, Jagan should have reshuffled the cabinet in December itself as per his announcement at the time of formation of the state cabinet in June 2019 that he would revamp the entire cabinet after two and a half years. However, due to Covid-19 pandemic, he has decided to give extension to their term by a couple of months.
Sources said Jagan is cautiously choosing the new team of ministers as they would play a crucial role in the government in the next two years and their performance would help the YSRC return to power for a second term.