11 AM Dec 16, Team KCR to Get Six-pack Abs

Rao hinted that an ST MLA would be inducted in his team and it is likely that a woman MLA may also find a place in the Cabinet.

HYDERABAD:  Six months after coming to power, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will be inducting at least six new faces in his Cabinet. The much-awaited Cabinet expansion will take place on December 16.

The Chief Minister held confabulations with Governor ESL Narasimhan on Saturday. Later, an official release stated that the new Ministers would be sworn in on Tuesday at 11 am. On the appointed day, ie, June 2, Chief Minister Chandrasekhar Rao along with 11 others were sworn in. Since then, there have been widespread speculations about inducting new faces in the Cabinet.

However, how many MLAs will be taken into the Cabinet is still unclear though sources indicated that Rao may induct six legislators, taking the total Cabinet strength to 18.  However, Chief Minister Rao recently hinted that an ST MLA would be inducted in his team and it is likely that a woman MLA may also find a place in the Cabinet.

The names of probables doing the rounds include Kollapur MLA and former Minister Jupally Krishna  Rao, Rekha Naik, Konda Surekha and Tummala Nageswara Rao. If Rekha Naik is inducted, Rao will fulfill both ST and woman vacancy in his team.

Under the women quota, former Minister Surekha of Warangal and Kova Lakshmi of Adilabad are also eyeing the coveted post. Meanwhile, Talasani Srinivas Yadav and Indrakaran Reddy, who joined TRS after the polls from TDP and BSP respectively, are also eyeing a berth. Besides, there may be re-allocation of portfolios among some Ministers.

It is not clear whether Rao will drop any Minister from the Cabinet or not. Meanwhile, the government on Saturday appointed Koppula Eshwar as Chief Whip in the Legislative Assembly. Three more whips were appointed. They are: G Sunitha, Nallal Odelu and Gampa Govardhan.

Those MLAs who failed to get a berth in the Cabinet may be appointed as chairpersons to various corporations. The attempt is to ensure that there is no discontentment among MLAs. According to sources, four to five MLAs may be nominated as chairpersons of corporations. V Srinivasa Goud and Jalagam Venkat Rao may be appointed as secretaries of legislature  party in the Legislative Assembly.