Vatti Vasantha Kumar indicated that he was still not mollified by the High Command by sidestepping the usual ceremonial photographic sessions by taking charge as the Minister for Tourism ahead of the scheduled time.
It is common knowledge that Mr Vasantha Kumar had resigned in protest against the allotment of an ‘insignificant’ portfolio like the Tourism Ministry.
He had refused to take his resignation back, saying that he would do so only after complaining about the issue to the High Command. Mr Vasantha Kumar had indeed visited New Delhi and was reportedly pacified by the High Command.
After taking charge on Wednesday, when media persons asked him whether he was still angry, Mr Vasantha Kumar said "I am neither happy nor unhappy."
But Minister for Roads and Building Dharmana Prasada Rao, Finance Minister Anam Ramnarayana Reddy, Transport Minister Botsa Satyanarayana, Social Welfare Minister Pithani Satyanarayana, and Revenue Minister N Raghuveera Reddy met Mr Vasantha Kumar and were closeted with him in his ante-room.
Obviously, these Ministers went to his chambers to further pacify him.
Interestingly he told media persons later that he had signed a file for favour of awards eligibility to music and dance college teachers. This group was earlier not eligible for the awards earlier.