Six months into office, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao is expanding his Cabinet by inducting at least six new Ministers on December 16.
The development came after Mr. Rao drove down to Raj Bhavan to call on the Governor E. S. L. Narasimhan, who returned from New Delhi on Saturday morning. Both were closeted for less than an hour during which time, Mr. Rao is understood to have told the Governor about the impending Cabinet expansion.
“Six more will be inducted into the Cabinet on December 16 at 11 am,” official sources told The Hindu on Saturday. The total strength of the Council of Ministers including the Chief Minister is 18.
On June 2, Mr. Rao had inducted 11 Ministers in his council. Of them, two T. Rajaiah and Md. Mahamood Ali are Deputy Chief Ministers.
All the 10 districts barring Mahabubnagar and Khammam has representation in the Cabinet. It is understood that Mr. Rao is likely to induct two legislators from these districts and give preference to SC, ST and BCs, including at least two women legislators in the proposed expansion, the first after TRS rode to power in the general elections earlier this year.
Whips
Ahead of the expansion, the Chief Minister took a decision to fill up the posts of Chief Whip and Whips. Senior dalit MLA Koppula Eashwar was tipped to be appointed as Chief Whip. Three other MLAs – Gampa Goverdhan (Kamareddy), Nallala Odelu (Chennur) and Gongidi Sunitha (Alair) are set to become Government Whips.
In another significant move, Mr. Rao has decided to appoint at least four to six parliamentary secretaries. Names of Jalagam Venkat Rao (Kothagudem) and Srinivas Goud (Mahabubnagar) have been cleared for the post.
The Chief Minister is also scheduled to appoint five to six legislators as chairpersons of State-run corporations.
