Though there is no official confirmation from the Telangana government as such, there are enough indication that Telangana Rashtra Samithi president and chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will expand his cabinet at last on February 10.
As reported in these columns a couple of weeks ago, KCR had been waiting for auspicious days or muhurtams and February 10 happens to be the most auspicious day: It is Sri Panchami, which is dedicated to Goddess Saraswati and any activity that is taken on that day will yield very good results. Hence, KCR has chosen the muhurtham.
There have been reports that it is not going to be a major expansion but KCR will induct only six to eight ministers in the first phase.
He will take up another round of cabinet expansion after the Lok Sabha elections to be held in April/May.
It is not exactly known who is there in the mind of KCR for being inducted into the cabinet.
According to reports, KCR might not induct his son K T Rama Rao and his nephew T Harish Rao into the cabinet, as KCR wants his son, who is now TRS working president, to take responsibility of steering the party in the Lok Sabha elections, while Harish to contest the Lok Sabha elections.
The fact that Harish has vacated his ministerial bungalow in the Minister’s Quarters in Road No. 12, Banjara Hills, itself indicated that he would not be inducted into the cabinet.
However, another former minister Tummala Nageshwar Rao, who lost the assembly elections from Palair in Khammam district, is still continuing in the same bungalow in the minister’s quarters.
Apparently, KCR has asked him not to vacate the bungalow till he takes up the cabinet expansion.
This led to the talk that Tummala might be included in the cabinet. Since the MLC elections are going to be held soon, KCR might nominate Tummala for the MLC post and make him a minister.
After all, Tummala’s presence in the cabinet is essential for KCR to win the Khammam parliamentary seat!
