KCR anoints DS as Spl Advisor to govt with cabinet rank

The Telangana State government today appointed former minister Dharmapuri Srinivas, who joined TRS party recently, as Special Advisor to Government of Telangana to deal with inter-State affairs in the rank of a Cabinet minister, initially for a period of one year.

Speaking on this occasion, Srinivas said Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao has assigned this onerous responsibility keeping full faith in him. “I will perform my duties up to the expectations of the Chief Minister”, he said. There was a need to clear some issues with some States after the division of the State, he said, adding he would play his role to fructify the efforts of the Chief Minister.

The Special Advisor will be drawing a salary of Rs one lakh, rent allowances Rs 50,000, conveyance allowance of Rs 30,000 and fuel charges of Rs 15,000. Besides, he will get medical reimbursement on par with AIS officers and ministers. He is also eligible for claiming TA/DA from the date of assuming office.

The Special Advisor will be provided with one private secretary, one DEO, two office staff, a driver with vehicle, a telephone at residence and one cell phone connection by the GAD.

As expected the Chief Minister anointed Srinivas, former president of APCC in undivided State, as Special Advisor with a cabinet rank with perks. Probably this is the first case of giving Special Advisor post by any government which used to appoint advisors at top level giving elevation to leaders to brace up its mechanism. The KCR dispensation has already six advisors, R Vidyasagar Rao, KV Ramana Chary, Papa Rao, Ram Lakshman, G R Reddy and A K Goel.

KCR seems to have accorded this status to DS in recognition to his long political career, acumen and knack. His elevation is expected to fructify government’s welfare schemes and development programs as well as to expand the TRS in every district and pockets of GHMC area which is going to polls soon. Unmindful of ‘skirmishes’ in the Congress, DS switched loyalties to the ruling TRS taking a call from its supremo and the Chief Minister who is now dreaming of making the State a Golden Telangana.

Earlier, Srinivas remained unhappy in the Congress and fumed at AICC general secretary Digvijay Singh for denial of the post he sought. What angered him is that he could not get the same from the AICC besides enjoying better rapport with national level leaders despite pushing the Congress to get power in undivided Andhra Pradesh in association with the then Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

It is pertinent to note that Srinivas, who unsuccessfully contested against BJP’s Yendla Lakshminarayana from Nizamabad twice and finally became Leader of Opposition during the previous Congress regime by getting nominated to an MLC post. (NSS)