K Chandrasekhar Rao retains welfare portfolios

Hyderabad: Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao, dressed in his trademark white shirt and pants, and the vermillion tikka on his forehead, took the oath of office in the name of God. Many of his Cabinet colleagues took it in the name of Pavitra Hrudayam (conscience).

As predicted by this newspaper, Mr Rao retained the SC, ST, BC and minorities welfare portfolios, municipal administration and urban development, energy, coal, GAD and all other portfolios that have not yet been allotted.

Mohammed Mahamood Ali took the oath after Mr Rao. Dr T. Rajaiah, a Dalit from Station Ghanpur (SC) constituency, was the third to take the oath. By appointing the two men as his deputies, the Chief Minister demonstrated that he had kept his promise to give priority to minorities and SCs.

Another senior party leader and MLC Nayani Narasimha, who “reluctantly” took the home portfolio, took the oath next and was followed by Mr Etala Rajender, Mr Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Mr T. Harish Rao, Mr T. Padma Rao, Mr P. Mahender Reddy, Mr K.T. Rama Rao, Mr Jogu Ramanna and Mr G. Jagdishwar Reddy.

The lone MLA from Secunderabad city, Mr T. Padma Rao, who was inducted to strengthen the party in the city in view of the GHMC polls, got the plum Excise portfolio which he desired.
Mr Rao’s US-educated son, Mr Rama Rao, who was taking care of industry honchos at the swearing-in ceremony, was given IT and panchayat raj portfolios, while his nephew, Mr Harish Rao got irrigation.

Mr Rao had initially planned to induct just six ministers, but due to pressure increased it to nine and subsequently to 11. Barring new entrant Mahender Reddy from Tandur, all those inducted today are hardcore party leaders.

Mr Rao, of course, received much applause from the crowd. But Mr Harish Rao too received a long burst of applause from the packed crowd.

TD leaders stayed away from the function. Congress and BJP leaders, including former Speaker Nadendla Manohar, former CM Nadendla Bhaskar Rao, BJP MP Bandaru Dattatreya, BJP state president G. Kishan Reddy, CPI leader Aziz Pasha, Congress MLC P. Sudhakar Reddy and CPM leader Tammineni Veerabhadram were all in attendance.

Raj Bhavan was packed to capacity with invitees and as the flow of dignitaries increased, there was a scramble for space. Mr Harish Rao and Mr Rama Rao swung into action and made the necessary seating arrangements. Still, many dignitaries had to sit crammed together because there were not enough chairs for everyone.