HYDERABAD: In the backdrop of the growing demand for statehood to Telangana, the Congress today appointed C Damodar Raja Narasimha, a Minister in the Kiran Reddy Government as Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh.Governor E S L Narasimhan gave his consent for the elevation of the 52-year-old Minister from Telangana who is holding Higher Education portfolio in the present Cabinet.The move comes as the ruling party leaders, including lawmakers, from the region stepped up their statehood demand and met the Prime Minister as part of their efforts."In exercise of the powers conferred upon him by Article 164(1) of the Constitution, the Governor of Andhra Pradesh, on advice of the Chief Minister, has been pleased to appoint C Damodar Raja Narasimha as Deputy Chief Minister with effect from June 10," an official statement said here.The three-time Congress MLA from Andol in Adilabad district was a Minister in the previous Government also.The landslide victory of Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy in the last month's bypoll has prompted the Congress high command to make major changes in the state unit of the party as well as the Government.A senior Minister from coastal Andhra Pradesh, Botsa Satyamnarayana, was appointed as the new State Congress President earlier this week.By making Narasimha as Deputy CM, the Congress high command is trying to appease both Telangana people in general and SCs (he belongs to Madiga community) in particular, political analysts said.Congress MPs and MLAs from Telangana yesterday met Prime Minister and told him that they would not be able to continue in their posts for long if a "positive decision" on the statehood issue is not taken at the earliest.
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