Hyderabad: TRS president and Telangana Chief Minister-in-waiting K Chandrasekhar Rao is toying with the idea of having two Deputy Chief Ministers, one from Muslim minority and another from SC community in his Cabinet.
While the name of MLC Mohammed Mahamood Ali has been confirmed, Dharmapuri (SC) MLA Koppula Eshwar has been tipped for the second Deputy CM’s post, it is learnt.
The TRS sources said that Mr Rao has decided to stick to his promise of having a Deputy CM from Muslim minority. In addition to it, the TRS chief, to ward off criticism of backtracking on his promise of making a Dalit a Chief Minister, is planning to have another Deputy CM from SC community. Mr Koppula Eshwar’s name has reportedly been shortlisted, though there are few other SC legislators.
“There could be a surprise two Deputy Chief Ministers posts in the KCR Cabinet,” a senior party leader told this newspaper.
Mr Rao would either personally call on Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan on Sunday to hand over the Cabinet list for swearing in on June 2 at 8.15 am or send it across to Governor through a representative.
Mr Rao has reportedly completed the gruelling exercise of selecting his Cabinet team of 15 out of 18 allowed, but is yet to come to terms on key posts in CMO and other major positions.
T. Harish Rao, Etela Rajender, Nayani Narasimha Reddy (MLC), K.T. Rama Rao, Konda Surekha, Jogu Ramanna, Jagdishwar Reddy, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao or Laxma Reddy, Padma Devender Reddy, T. Padma Rao, J. Venkat Rao, Mr Swami Goud (MLC) or Mr Srinivas Goud, P. Mahender Reddy are in the reckoning for Cabinet berths.
Rumours are agog in party circles that Mr Etela Rajender or Mr Nayani Narasimha Reddy could be Home Minister.
The names of Rajiv Sharma as Chief Secretary, Anurag Sharma as DGP, Shivdhar Reddy as IG Intelligence have been cleared along with Mr Narsinga Rao as Principal Secretary in CMO. Mr Mahender Reddy, IG Intelligence is tipped for the City Police Commissioner’s post.
