KCR may inject fresh faces in team if party sweeps poll

HYDERABAD: With Exit polls predicting a return of the TRS government, the question now doing the rounds in TRS circles is who will KCR drop from the ministry to accommodate new faces. In the run-up to the polls, the TRS president had made it amply clear that he himself would be the chief minister. There were 18 ministers in the cabinet and the number cannot be increased according to the formula for permitting the ministry strength as per total number of constituencies. By this formula, the strength of the cabinet cannot exceed 15 per cent of the total strength of the House. Telangana has 119-member House.

While campaigning in some constituencies, the chief minister had assured the crowd that if they re-elect their legislator, a ‘promotion’ for him or her is guaranteed. He gave this assurance for those who had not been made ministers. If KCR sticks to his words then deputy speaker Padma Devender Reddy, who contested from Medak seeking a reelection, would stand a chance to make it to the cabinet if the word ‘promotion’ in KCR’s terminology means a ministry berth and not necessarily being made the Speaker. He also promised a promotion to Vemula Veeresham who contested again from the Nakrekal seat. Hopes of Peddapalle MP Balka Suman, who contested from Chennur, have also been raised as KCR during a campaign meeting indicated a better position for him too.

If the above mentioned and some more names have to be accommodated in the cabinet, it is inevitable for KCR to drop some of the ministers from the last term. Home minister Nayani Narasimha Reddy and deputy chief minister Mahmood Ali are MLCs, like another deputy chief minister Kadiam Srihari. KCR had some issues with all three as they had aspired for a ticket for their family members, but were counselled against their demand. Some seniors might have to make way for fresh faces, but even the new incumbents will have to fit into the formula of giving representation to all sections of the society.

During his campaign, KCR had also made it clear that some ministers would not be dropped. He gave this hint while campaigning for finance minister Eatala Rajendar.

After the 2014 elections, KCR had made only one change in the cabinet. He had dropped deputy chief minister T Rajaiah who held the health portfolio and replaced him with Kadiam Srihari. Rajaiah was elected from Station Ghanpur and was dropped from the ministry in January 2015. Srihari had thought he would checkmate his long-time rival and insisted on Station Ghanpur seat to be given to either his daughter Kavya or himself, but KCR did not oblige.

Much before the elections, KCR had represented to the Election Commission and the Centre on increasing the number of constituencies in Telangana, but he did not get a positive response. If this was done, he would have been able to induct more ministers.