Andhra gets first woman home minister

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy on Tuesday appointed Sabita Indira Reddy as the state home minister. Sabita, the widow of former home minister Indira Reddy, is the first woman to hold the prestigious ministry in the state.

Reddy has already included six women in his cabinet -- three of them are first time ministers.

Sabita, a politician from Telangana region, was a member of YSR's first cabinet and was previously in charge of the mining ministry.

Sabita, who was always called Chevella Chellamma (younger sister from Chevella) by YSR, was elected from Maheshwaram as her Chevella constituency was reserved for a Scheduled Caste candidate.

"The chief minister has reposed faith in women and realised our true potential," said a confident Sabita.

Sabita's husband Indira Reddy, who died in an accident nearly ten years ago, had served as the home minister in then chief minister NT Rama Rao's cabinet between 1994 and 1995.

While Sabita will be responsible for home affairs, crucial powers like regulating law and order and appointments and transfers of senior police officials will remain vested with YSR.

YSR has entrusted important responsibilities to other women ministers too. Senior women ministers like J Geeta Reddy and Galla Aruna have been allotted important portfolios like information and road and buildings respectively.

Among other women members of the cabinet, D K Aruna was allotted small industries and Khadi ministry, Konda Surekha has been made the minister for women and child welfare and Sunita Lakshma Reddy is the minister for minor irrigation.

The senior ministers who could retain their old portfolios include K Rosaiaha (Finance), Ponnala Lakshmaiah (Major Irrigation), Dharmana Prasad (Revenue) and Raghuveera Reddy (Agriculture).

The lone Muslim minister in the cabinet, Syed Ahmadullah, has been allotted the portfolios of minority welfare and primary education, while the youngest member of the cabinet D Sridhar Rao is the minister for higher education.