Hyderabad: Arriving at the main entrance of the new Secretariat building at 1.15 pm, Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Sunday assumed his seat on the sixth floor of the building amid chanting of hymns by Vedic scholars.
Upon assuming his seat, the Chief Minister signed six files to extend government benefits to various sections, with ministers, secretaries and other staff following suit, all at the auspicious time.
Officials said that approaching the building, the Chief Minister stopped at the point where roads and buildings minister Vemula Prashanth Reddy was waiting, to perform Sudarshana Yagam and Chandi Homam. He was accorded a traditional welcome by the Vedic priests and scholars. After performing ‘purnahuti’, Rao got back into his vehicle and headed to the main door.
At the entrance, the Chief Minister was accorded the ceremonial guard of honour, following which he took the staircase to reach the main door of the building. Here, he unveiled a plaque and cut a ribbon, marking the formal inauguration of the Dr B.R. Ambedkar Telangana Secretariat at 1.24 pm.
Later, the Chief Minister, accompanied by Chief Secretary A. Santhi Kumari and Prashanth Reddy, was driven for about 50 metres on the ground floor corridor of the Secretariat in a battery car. After attending another puja, he took a car ride to take the lift to reach his office on the sixth floor.
After another brief puja and taking ‘harathi’ in his office, Chandrashekar Rao assumed his seat at the ‘muhurtam’ at 1.32 pm, immediately signing his first file. He was helped by CS Santhi Kumari, his personal secretary Smita Sabharwal and a battery of officials to sign the files.
After the file signing, Vedic scholars blessed the Chief Minister, who was then greeted by Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy and Legislative Council chairman Guttha Sukhender Reddy, with the rest of his team following suit. All ministers, except Errabelli Dayakar Rao and Sabitha Indra Reddy, paid obeisance to the Chief Minister by touching his feet, after presenting him with a bouquet.
IT minister K.T. Rama Rao was at his office on the third floor, undertaking MA&UD ministry works.
Later, senior government and police officials, besides people’s representatives, greeted and congratulated the Chief Minister.
