The Andhra Pradesh government has recently elevated Raghuramakrishnaraju, the Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, by granting him a Cabinet rank. This decision was made in accordance with Article 15 of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly Act and will remain in effect as long as Raghuramakrishnaraju holds the position of Deputy Speaker. The Government Order (G.O.) issued by Suresh Kumar, the Political Secretary, specifies the implementation of appropriate protocol and security measures to align with this rank.
This decision marks a significant moment in Andhra Pradesh politics, as it is the first instance of a Deputy Speaker being granted a Cabinet rank since the bifurcation of United Andhra Pradesh. While Deputy Speakers have been appointed in the past, none were previously honored with a Cabinet-level status. The coalition government’s decision to grant this honor highlights the strategic effort to strengthen political alliances and show respect towards Raghuramakrishnaraju.
Raghuramakrishnaraju had aspired to secure a ministerial or speaker position, both of which would have included a Cabinet rank, but those aspirations were not fulfilled. Instead, Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu appointed him as Deputy Speaker without the Cabinet-level recognition initially. Nevertheless, Raghuramakrishnaraju continued to perform his role diligently. The current decision by CM Chandrababu to grant him a Cabinet status further solidifies his standing in the coalition government and emphasizes the commitment to maintaining and strengthening important political alliances within Andhra Pradesh’s legislative framework.