Senior Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader and Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao is definitely a disgruntled man for being denied a berth in the Telangana cabinet which was expanded by his uncle, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Tuesday.
But, Harish Rao did not show it up on his face, when he came to Raj Bhavan to attend the swearing-in ceremony of the 10 newly inducted ministers.
He sat beside his brother-in-law and KCR’s son K T Rama Rao and was found chatting with him without any expressions on his face.
Like Harish Rao, KTR also did not make it to the cabinet, but there is a difference between the two. Though he did not get the cabinet post, KTR is already a de facto chief minister who has been indirectly calling the shots in the administration. And in any case, he is likely to ascend the CM throne soon after the Lok Sabha elections.
However, Harish Rao, who held the most important portfolio of irrigation in the previous government, was deliberately left out, as it was pretty evident that KCR does not want him to pose any threat to KTR if the latter becomes the chief minister.
Though there is a talk that Harish Rao will be forced to contest Lok Sabha elections from Medak, latest reports say it is unlikely and he will be asked to continue just as an MLA.
This has left Harish sulking, but he tried to put up a brave face.
“I am prepared to work as an ordinary TRS worker. I am not unhappy with not getting the cabinet berth,” he told media after the swearing-in ceremony.
He said he was a loyal TRS worker and he would abide by whatever decision his party leader KCR took.
“I am ready to accept whatever responsibility I am entrusted with. I have no groups in the party,” he said and appealed to the media not to go by any reports in the social media about his disgruntlement.
