Hyderabad, January 20: The Chief Minister, Mr N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, on Thursday inducted MLC Mr C. Ramachandraiah, and the Anakapalle MLA, Mr Ganta Srinivasa Rao, both belonging to the erstwhile Praja Rajyam, into the Cabinet taking the total strength to 38.
In a simple ceremony held in Raj Bhavan lawns, the Governor, Mr E.S.L. Narasimhan, administered the oath of office and secrecy to the two leaders who got Cabinet berths as part of the deal the Praja Rajyam struck with Congress for the merger.
The Chief Minister also dismissed the maverick textile minister, Mr P. Shankar Rao, from the Cabinet. Based on a letter from the Chief Minister, Mr Narasimhan issued a notification removing the minister within a few hours after the swearing in ceremony.
Though the two developments — induction of two PR leaders and sacking of the textile minister — were on expected lines, Mr Shankar Rao got the support of Dalit and Backward Class organisations which described the ouster as anti-Dalit. The minister also got moral support from unusual quarters like the YSR Congress which said the Congress adopted a use and throw policy with him.
–Source: Flashnewstoday
The pro-Telangana forces within Congress and outside also hit out at the CM for completely ignoring the region. No Congress MP from the T region turned out at the swearing in ceremony.
The Telangana forces cried foul over the regional equilibrium getting upset because of not filling the vacancies from the region and on top of it one more vacancy arising out of Mr Shankar Rao’s removal. At present, 16 ministers are from coastal Andhra, nine from Rayalaseema and 13 from Telangana.
The ceremony was fully dominated by the PCC chief, Mr Botsa Satyanarayana, and former PR chief, Mr K. Chiranjeevi.
The two were in a joyful mood and greeted all the ministers and leaders. Mr Chiranjeevi’s brother Mr Nagababu and brother-in-law Mr Allu Aravind were also present.
Notable absentees were panchayat raj minister, Mr K. Jana Reddy, information minister Ms D.K. Aruna. A majority MLAs present belonged to Praja Rajyam.