Hyderabad: As the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao is slated to return here after a five-day visit of some States and the National capital, speculation gathered momentum in the ruling TRS circles on the possibility of Ministry making within the next three or four days, whether there will be phase-wise Ministry or full ministry, and on the choice of Members for the posts of Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip, etc. Some of the aspirants are stated to be spending sleepless nights due to the continued suspense since the Chief Minister was sworn-in on December 13, along with Mohd Mahmood Ali.
There was scope for induction of 16 Ministers, as per the specified norms. Apart from this, the posts of Speaker, Deputy Speaker and the Chief whip. Informed sources indicate that KCR will first finalise the names of Speaker, Deputy Speaker and Chief whip, and possibly seven or eight Ministers. In all probability, KCR might induct some Ministers in the first phase, on December 30 or on January 1. KCR is stated to be toying with the idea of having a full cabinet only after the Lok Sabha elections due next year. Indications are that in the first phase, both K T Rama Rao (KCR’s son) and T Harish Rao (KCR’s nephew) might be inducted as Ministers. There is scope for some new faces in the Ministry and the inclusion of a woman in the Cabinet appears to be a certainty.
On his return from Delhi, KCR is likely to have consultations with the senior leaders of the party tonight itself on Ministry formation and continue the process tomorrow also and then call on the Governor ESL Narasimhan with a list of candidates.
There is already criticism from the opposition leaders on the Chief Minister not finalizing the Ministry, even after 15 days of his taking over reigns of the State, following the election results. Some of the opposition leaders flayed KCR for failure to form the Ministry and concentrate on Governance; and making efforts to form a Federal Front at the national level. In view of this, some of the senior leaders are advising the Chief Minister to attend to the task of Cabinet formation at least now.
In the background of Ministry making, hectic activity was witnessed at the Telangana Bhavan, head-quarters of TRS Party in the city, with many of the aspirants making a beeline to meet the party Working President KTR and seek his support. It may be mentioned that KCR has recently appointed KTR as the party’s working President. Following this, many of the party legislators believe that KTR could influence the Ministry formation to some extent, and hence they are putting forward their claims to KTR with a request to recommend their names for Ministerial berths.
It may be recalled that the TRS had won 88 out of the 119 Assembly seats, and two Independents have already joined the party, taking the total strength to 90.(NSS)
