Fifty is an important milestone and has significance in measuring records of sports persons in their careers, and the same fifty now may enter into the political record books with the Telangana Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao crossing this milestone ‘without’ a full Cabinet.
Technically, one may argue that he has a Cabinet consisting of himself and Home Minister Mahmood Ali and has even held a Cabinet meeting to announce some important decisions. If that is valid, which technically is certainly valid, it is certainly the smallest Cabinet in the history of independent India. With no signs of any immediate expansion, the record will only strengthen.
KCR was sworn in Chief Minister on December 13, 2018 after a massive victory with his party bagging 88 seats out of the 119 in the Telangana Assembly. Along with him Mahmood Ali, who was the Deputy Chief Minister in the earlier TRS government, was also sworn in and allocated the Home portfolio. Since then, several speculations by the media over the dates of Cabinet expansion have fallen flat so far as none could read the mind of KCR, who is known to play cards close to his chest.
The last Chief Minister to function without a Cabinet was the late N.T. Rama Rao who ran the State for 17 days after dismissing his 31-member Cabinet in 1989 angry over leakage of budget papers to the media much before its presentation in the Assembly. Later, he inducted 23 new members that comprised several first-time ministers. However, NTR dismissed the Cabinet after forming it unlike KCR who has not included anyone except Mr. Mahmood Ali along with him.
Oppn. critical
The Opposition has been quite critical of the Chief Minister’s attitude, terming it autocratic, but that has not moved him. “The media too is just speculating the dates rather than questioning the CM over the delay,” said Leader of the Opposition and CLP leader Bhatti Vikramarka.
“It certainly is violation of constitutional practices, though the Constitution has not mentioned any time-frame for Cabinet formation,” Mr. Vikramarka said adding that KCR should remember that governance is a collective responsibility of the ministers and not just one person.
But why is the Cabinet not expanded is the question haunting everyone? Politicians, analysts and even common people have put forth their own theories but so far no one could go near the Chief Minister’s thinking for the actual reason. Since KCR is highly superstitious and a strong believer in astrology and religious practices, several arguments have been made citing the auspicious date and time he is looking for.
“An important element in this inordinate delay that gives enormous advantage to him is that KCR is a regional satrap and he doesn’t have compulsions like a national party where the Delhi leadership also has a role. No one in the party can either question him or ask for an explanation on the delay,” admits a senior TRS leader wishing to remain anonymous.
Sources, however, reveal that the Cabinet will be expanded any time before February 10 as ‘Maghamasam’, considered to be auspicious by the Hindus, will start from February 5. But this will not be a full-fledged expansion and he would prefer to keep several vacancies out of the maximum 18 members allowed.
The remaining may be filled only after Parliament elections to meet the caste, region and religion permutations and combinations. The vacancies will also allow his son and TRS working president K.T. Rama Rao to have his say if at all KCR moves to New Delhi for better prospects with strong numbers in his hand and allows his son to take over reigns in Telangana.