G Kishan Reddy takes charge as Union Coal & Mines Minister

New Delhi: Union Minister G Kishan Reddy took charge as Minister for Coal and Mines on Thursday thronged by at least 250-300 Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers and office-bearers who had come all the way from Secunderabad, Reddy’s parliamentary constituency, to see him take charge at Shastri Bhawan — a visual which is rarely associated with an occasion such as this. Reddy was received by former Coal Minister Pralhad Joshi and top officials of the ministry. He took charge of the two new portfolios in his office, performed a puja and then greeted the BJP party workers from Secunderabad personally, who were all gathered around him in the small room, braving the heat and humidity.

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Along with Reddy, Satish Chandra Dubey also took charge as Minister of State for Coal and Mines.

Will continue to increase domestic coal production, reduce import: Reddy

Addressing the media on the occasion, Reddy said that the Modi government has increased coal production over the last decade to address the rising power demand. “India was facing coal shortages a decade ago. Power cuts impacted farmers, industries and domestic consumers. That has changed. There is enough coal and power availability today,” said the new Coal and Mines Minister.

“We should reduce import and increase domestic production,” he said. He added that the Coal Ministry will work in tandem with the Ministries of Power, Railways and Environment. On being asked what will be the priority of his government for the mines sector, he said “I have just taken charge and I will review the department... first I want to see my officers then only I can say something. I want to review first.”

The Ministries of Coal and Mines were earlier headed by Joshi, who has now moved to the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.

G Kishan Reddy

Reddy won the Secunderabad Lok Sabha seat with 4,73,012 votes in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, defeating his nearest rival from Congress, Danam Nagender, with a margin of over 49,000 votes. He was earlier a three-time MLA and BJP floor leader in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh assemblies.

Born to middle-class farmer-parents in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana near Hyderabad, Reddy started his political career as an ordinary worker in 1977 and joined the BJP when it was formed in 1980. He has held important party positions over the years, including the president of the BJP’s state unit and national president of BJP’s Yuva Morcha (BJYM).

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