FOR long. Andhra Pradesh Revenue Minister N. Srinivasulu Reddi has enjoyed the confidence of Chief Minister N.T. Rama Rao, even standing in for him in the Assembly on occasion. Among the first of the Reddis to join the Kamma-dominated Telugu Desam-Rama Rao is a Kamma-he rose quickly in the ministry. But in the last three months. relations between the two have soured. But last fortnight it seemed that a patch-up had taken place when Srinivasulu and his wife held a half-hour conciliatory meeting with Rama Rao. The minister declared his intention never to seek promotion and gave an assurance to help the chief minister's actor-son Balakrishna secure his father's post if Rama Rao entered national politics. Said Srinivasulu after the meeting: "The chief minister assured me that he does not entertain any suspicions about me."
But it seems unlikely that Rama Rao will quietly accept a reconciliation after the kind of defiance Srinivasulu had shown. The conflict was triggered off in August when Srinivasulu's brother, Chandrasekhar Reddi. and a supporter. M. Gangadharam. were suspended from the party at the behest of Rama Rao's son-in-law and party Political Secretary N. Chandrababu Naidu. Srinivasulu reacted by complaining even at cabinet meetings, that the Government was sidelining the party's interests-indirectly objecting to Naidu's role.
Moreover, Srinivasulu announced that he would tour 23 districts to conduct a people's petitions day. This followed Rama Rao's decision to hold people's assemblies to personally-and speedily-solve local grievances. In retaliation, the chief minister deliberately called cabinet meetings on days when the revenue minister was on tour.
The suspensions had come following complaints by the revenue minister's rivals in his home turf, Nellore district. that he was interfering in local administration and arranging out-of-turn contracts for various works to his supporters. In retaliation, the minister accused local MLA Ramnarayan Reddy-one of his critics-and his family of swindling the District Cooperative Marketing Society of lakhs of rupees since 1981.
Amidst all this mud-slinging, last fortnight's meeting between Rama Rao and Srinivasulu, which was also attended by Naidu. seemed a compromise. It was arranged by state Health Minister. Dr D. Venkateswara Rao. another son-in-law of the chief minister. Rama Rao agreed to revoke Chandrashekhar Reddi's suspension but not that of Gangadharam. He also promised Srinivasulu that he would order an inquiry by a senior official into the District Cooperative Marketing Society scandal.
Though outwardly Srinivasulu has emerged intact, this probably only marks a temporary truce. It is possible that if Rama Rao finds an experienced Reddi leader capable of assuming ministerial capabilities, Srinivasulu could find himself in trouble. In that case Srinivasulu, who once declared that he is willing "to give my head for Rama Rao" may find the chief minister taking him up on his offer.