66 days with 1 minister, Telangana CM KCR to expand cabinet on February 19

HYDERABAD: Telangana will finally have a cabinet. Bringing down the curtains on 66 days of suspense, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to expand his team. The muhurat has been set for 11.30 am on February 19.




KCR was sworn in on December 13 last year, making this one of the longest gestation periods in the country between a party winning an assembly election and finally having a full-fledged cabinet.

After the December 7 assembly elections, TRS won a thumping victory in the December 11 results. The only other minister who was sworn in with KCR for a second term was Mohammed Mahmood Ali, who has been handed out the home portfolio. In the previous ministry, Mahmood Ali was deputy chief minister holding the revenue portfolio.

With the state budget session beginning on February 22 and ending on February 25, speculation is rife on who would present the budget. Although names of prospective ministers are already doing the rounds, there is no clarity on who will be in and who out.

While the TRS leaders couldn’t put their finger on what held KCR back for so long, sources said he took his own time as he wanted to “streamline” departments — more wings under each ministry — so that seven or eight key ministers could run the state machinery effectively.

For the expansion, the chief minister called on Governor ESL Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan on Friday afternoon and conveyed to him his decision to expand the cabinet.

KCR, who is deeply religious, has reportedly decided on the date based on astrological reasons. February 19 being a Magha Shuddha Pournami day, KCR has chosen the “auspicious occasion” for the swearing-in ceremony. Officials have been asked to make preparations for the event, which will be held at Raj Bhavan.

KCR’s decision to expand the cabinet came a day after it was announced that the voteon-account budget would be presented on February 22. With many aspirants, castes and factions to balance, KCR has a tough task on his hands. Former ministers are keenly looking forward to the expansion as much as the new aspirants, the sources said.

The strength of the cabinet cannot exceed 18 ministers (15% of 119-member assembly as per the Constitution), including the chief minister. So far, it has only been a two-member cabinet at the helm.