Cabinet to be mix of young, old

Hyderabad: The new Cabinet will see the merging of different departments for more cohesive functioning and administrative convenience.

Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao while speaking to mediapersons on Saturday said there was no urgency to form the Cabinet.

Asked about the Cabinet expansion, Mr Rao said, “When the TRS came to power in 2014 we had initial hiccups. Now we have settled down and we will take decision as per the requirement.”

He said that the new Cabinet will be a blend of the old and young blood. Though Mr Rao did not indicate a timeline, party leaders hoped that he would fix a mahurat after Sankranti.

On merging departments, Mr Rao gave the example of agriculture, marketing, cooperation and civil supplies departments which were handled by different ministers though they were inter-connected.

“I have asked the Chief Secretary and adviser to prepare the list departments which are inter connected so that new minister can conveniently handle their portfolios.”

Stating that there was no necessity for the MLAs to take oath, the Chief Minister  said that the House was constituted following the notification of the Election Commission. The MLAs have to take oath only to participate in the proceedings.

He said that on an earlier occasion, the MLAs took oath 53 days after the results. In 2014, the MLAs took oath 29 days after the results were announced.

The Chief Minister said that he would ensure that every district would get representation in the government by some means.

Refuting the BJPs allegations that he was neglecting the Backward Classes, Mr Rao said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had ignored the state’s request to have a separate ministry at the Centre for BCs welfare and to appoint a chairman for the National BC Commission. Mr Rao explained the various schemes introduced by the TRS government.