Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy finally managed to conduct a meeting of his Cabinet after his colleagues, except one, hailing from Telangana region and staying away from official duties since July 4, apparently fell in line.
For the first time, the Cabinet meeting was held at the Chief Minister's camp office and not at the Secretariat as the Telangana ministers remained firm on the resolve not to enter the Secretariat till the Central Government took a favourable decision on the statehood issue.
Infrastructure Minister Komatireddy Venkat Reddy skipped the meet in accordance with his vow to not attend official duties till the Centre made a positive announcement on creation of Telangana state.
Textiles Minister P. Shanker Rao did not attend the meet as he underwent an eye surgery recently, sources said.
However, ten other Ministers from Telangana were present.
The previous sitting of the Cabinet, which is supposed to meet every fortnight, was held on June 16. Subsequently, the Cabinet did not meet because of the Telangana turmoil.
12 out of the 15 Ministers from Telangana had submitted their resignations only from the membership of the state legislature and not the Cabinet.
Though the resignations were subsequently rejected by Assembly Speaker Nadendla Manohar, the 12 Ministers had not been 'officially' attending duties even as their fellow colleague from Andhra-Rayalaseema regions and some Congress MLAs claimed the Telangana Ministers were clearing official files and conducting business from their residences.
A couple of them reportedly attended some official engagements in the Secretariat in the last few days.