The YSRCP sources say that it’s almost certain that many of the ministers from the YSRCP council of ministers are on their way out. Jagan’s close relative and minister Balineni Srinivas has not just confirmed it but also said that even he could be replaced. This is in conformity with what Jagan has said at the time of forming the government. He had said that the cabinet could be reshuffled after two years and new ministers could be brought in based on the performance evaluation of the sitting ministers.

One minister whose replacement is said to be almost certain is Bheemili MLA Avanthi Srinivas. It is almost certain that he could be replaced, especially in the wake of the recent audio tape leak. In the tape, the male voice, which is allegedly that of the minister, is heard seeking sexual favours from a woman Sources say that Avanti Srinivas is a Kapu and he is likely to be replaced by a Kapu. Sources say it could be Gudivada Amarnath.

Gudivada is a strong Jagan supporter and was with him even when he was out of power. He is from Anakapalli constituency. The names of MadugulaMutyala Naidu and Baburao are also doing rounds . Mutyala Naidu is from the Koppula Velama community, which is quite strong in the North Andhra. Similarly, Golla Babu Rao too is expecting a ministerial berth. Sources say that he has even rejected the TTD board member post because of his focus on the minister’s post.

The names of Karanam Dharmasri and P Umashankar Ganesh are also doing rounds. It remains to be seen who will be chosen as the minister for the remainder of the term.

The ruling YCP Ministers and MLAs are continuing to talk boldly that Visakhapatnam would be developed into an international city. The Government was spending Rs. 1,000 Cr to develop necessary infrastructure to develop Visakhapatnam as the Administrative Capital. Minister Avanti Srinivas is now raising fresh hopes that crores worth works were started in Bheemili and Madhurawada areas. He says the port city would have all necessary infrastructure to function as the Administrative Capital for Andhra Pradesh. But the big question is whether the ruling party Ministers are having any idea on the cases that were filed in the High Court against Capital shifting.

From the Amaravati Capital city farmers to Opposition parties, many stakeholders have filed cases seeking cancellation of 3 Capitals. All the 29,000 farmers, who contributed their ancestral lands, have a right to file cases at individual and collective levels before the court. Already, the High Court has stayed the shifting of Capital. Even then, in its own inimitable adamant style, the Jagan Reddy regime is making secret efforts to get everything ready in Visakhapatnam. This is despite the High Court warning that officials would be held responsible if any office was shifted from Amaravati to the port city.

Till now, Jagan Reddy regime suffered setbacks over 69 times as its orders were cancelled or set aside by the courts. The CM may be of the view that he can just play around the court cases on the Capital issue also just as he is doing with his Rs. 43,000-Cr illegal assets cases. But, in respect of Amaravati, all Opposition parties are united while thousands of farmers and stakeholders are fighting for justice. But still, YCP Ministers are under a delusion that they can shift Capital. Obviously, they are counting chicken before they hatch. In matters of governance, this may not yield good results.

Tension prevailed in R R Venkatapuram on Monday after hundreds of residents stopped a convoy of tourism minister Avanthi Srinivas demanding fair assessment of damage due to the deadly gas leak in all the colonies of R R Venktapuram.

Heated argument ensued between the police and gas leak victims after the local residents stopped the convoy. They raised slogans “we want justice, we want justice.” The angry residents said the state government had failed to conduct a survey in Ajanta Park Colony, Tailors Colony and Bapuji Nagar colonies in R R Venktapuram and that they were meted out step-motherly treatment in so far as compensation was concerned.

When the agitating residents stopped the vehicle of Avanthi Srinivas and gheraoed him, the tourism minister tried to pacify them. Avanthi Srinivas was forced step out of his car, but when the residents did not relent the police had to clear the large gathering to ensure smooth passage of the minister’s convoy.

The state ministers on Monday handed over of Rs 1 crore compensation cheques to the kin of deceased in the gas leak. On Monday, ministers Avanthi Nani, Botsa Satyanarayana and Kanna Babu visted the families of eight people who lost their lives in the gas leak and handed over the cheques.

The toxic gas leak has left 12 dead, including two minors, and hundreds of people were hospitalized. Hundreds of people fell like a pack of cards, some choked while hailing the fumes emitted from LG Polymers, children and women were found unconscious on the pavements. Anger simmered on the streets of R R Venkatapuram with protesting residents demanding justice to the gas leak victims. Hundreds of residents gathered outside LP Polymers with bodies of those who died in the gas leak to protest against the government’s inaction over relocation of LG Polymers. The gas leak victims demanded that the company has to be shifted, as they now have to live with an ever present danger.

The toxic gas leak has left 12 dead, including two minors, and hundreds of people were hospitalized. Hundreds of people fell like a pack of cards, some choked while hailing the fumes emitted from LG Polymers, some morning walkers collapsed, children and women were found unconscious on the pavements. Tiny tots stranded on the pavement, looking for their mothers, mothers looking for their children. Anger simmered on the streets of R R Venkatapuram with protesting residents demanding justice to the gas leak victims. Hundreds of residents gathered outside LP Polymers with bodies of those who died in the gas leak to protest against the government’s inaction over relocation of LG Polymers.

In an insult to the protesting residents, Tourism Minister Avanthi Srinivas said the TDP was trying to mudsling the government by forcing the residents to protest outside LG Polymers with the bodies of the dead. “Desist from instigating people,” he said. He tried to undermine the protest and politicize it by making most insensitive remarks saying the protest outside the LG Polymers by angry residents was orchestrated by “TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu and company”. Further, he stated that the motive behind orchestrating such a protest was to hurt the ‘brand image’ of Visakhapatnam.

He stated that the Andhra Pradesh government was not favouring LG Polymers company and that TDP president and former chief minister was trying to tarnish the ‘brand image’ of Visakhapatnam. Patting the back of Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, the minister said the state government was doing everything possible to mitigate the crisis. “It is not fair to say that this government is acting irresponsibly. We have announced Rs 1 crore compensation, we are ensuring that the victims get best medical treatment, we have set up shelter homes to the victims, we are working round-the-clock. We have to salute the police for the good work they did and averted a big disaster.”

The angry residents pulled up Avanthi Srinivas and other local YSRCP leaders when they tried to pacify them. “No medical camp was conducted. The gas and fire detecting systems installed in the company failed. Does the government think it can absolve itself by giving compensation. The government is supporting the promoters of the company. Have you arrested single official of the company,” an angry resident questioned Avanti Srinvias. The angry residents pulled up the minister, posed some tought questions like why no company officials consoled the victims and why no case was booked against the company’s officials. The minister had no words. He repeatedly said the government awarded Rs 1 crore compensation. Instead of providing answers to the angry residents, the minister thinks Naidu was indulging in Twitter politics and that the TDP was trying to hurt the brand image of Vizag.

On Saturday, Naidu took to Twitter to question Chief Minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy why no arrests were made so far and why no action was taken against the officials of LG Polymers. In his tweet, he wrote, “Filled with fear, Vizagites are sleeping on the roads. Local residents are protesting on the streets for justice. Bereaved families are weeping alongside the bodies of their loved ones. Not a single arrest made nor a single asset seized. Where is @ysjagan? #VizagDemandsJustice.”

Naidu posted several visuals that show the extent of damange caused by the gas leak, trees burnt by the toxic fumes and people stranded on pavements. “These visuals are a manifestation of the devastation caused by the release of poisonous gases in the #VizagGasLeak. The toll on the health of residents is unimaginable. Yet, @ysjagan is making every effort to conceal the extent of damage #VizagDemandsJusticehttps://t.co/PI3uxb7Vba.”

Former TDP MLA Kinjarapu Atchannaidu who met the families of gas victims to console them demanded that LG Polymers should give Rs 10 crore to each of the families who lost their loved ones in the toxic gas leak. “Instead of meeting and consoling the victims’ families in the affected areas, the Chief Minister had met LG Polymers officials,” he said.