Hyderabad: Putting at rest speculation doing the rounds for the past two months, Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday expanded his two-member Cabinet with the induction of 10 ministers.
Among those inducted were four former ministers — Mr Etala Rajendar, Mr G. Jagadish Reddy, Mr A. Indrakaran Reddy and Mr Talasani Srinivas Yadav. The new faces are Mr Vemula Prashant Reddy, Mr Koppula Easwar, Mr Errabelli Dayakar Rao, Mr S. Niranjan Reddy, Mr V. Srinivas Goud and Mr Ch Malla Reddy.
Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan administered the oath of office and secrecy to the new ministers at a simple ceremony on the lawns of Raj Bhavan in the presence of the Chief Minister. The induction of the ten new ministers took the Cabinet size to 12, including the Chief Minister.
The Governor administered the oath initially to the former ministers and then to the newcomers.
All 10 ministers took the oath in Telugu. After taking the oath, Mr Jagadish Reddy, Mr Prashant Reddy and Mr Srinivas Goud sought blessings from Mr Rao by touching his feet.
Mr Rajendar had earlier handled the finance portfolio in the first TRS government, Mr Jagad-ish Reddy, Mr Indrakaran Reddy and Mr Srinivas Yadav had earlier held power, housing and animal husbandry portfolios respectively.
Among the first time ministers Mr Easwar was the government whip, Mr Niranjan Reddy vice-chairman of the State Planning Board and Mr Prashant Reddy, vice-chairman of Mission Bhagiratha.
The Chief Minister and TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao congratulated the new ministers.
The Constitution limits the Cabinet size to 15 per cent of the Assembly, giving Telangana state an 18-strong ministry including the Chief Minister. With 12 ministers now, Mr Rao can induct six more ministers. This will happen after the Lok Sabha elections, sources said.
