At last, Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has decided to expand his cabinet, more than two months after taking over the reins of the state for a second successive term.
The much-awaited cabinet expansion will take place at 11.30 am on February 19, an auspicious day – Maga Suddha Paurnami (full moon day).
According to an official communication from the chief minister’s office, KCR met Governor E S L Narasimhan later at Raj Bhavan in Friday afternoon and sought his time for the cabinet expansion which had been on cards for quite some time. Finally, the time and date has been fixed.
The chief minister directed the officials of the General Administration Department to make necessary arrangements for the induction of new ministers.
KCR has decided to keep his new team ready since the budget session of the assembly is going to start on February 22.
In all probability, KCR might induct eight to 10 ministers in the first phase. The second phase of cabinet expansion will take place after Lok Sabha elections.
According to party sources, KCR has completed his exercise of picking up the MLAs to whom he would accommodate in the cabinet based on caste, gender and community equations.
He also got the report from the government on reorganisation of departments so that the total number of portfolios would be reduced.
It is learnt most of the ministers who would take oath in the first phase are new faces. On the other hand, the leaders who served as ministers in the cabinet are making efforts to grab the position again.
