Hyderabad: Leader of the Telangana movement and president of the Telangana Rashtra Samiti Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhar Rao was sworn in as the first Chief Minister of Telangana, as the 29th state of the Indian Union was born on June 2, ringing down the curtain on a 14-year political battle for a separate state.
Eleven Cabinet ministers were sworn in as well. As expected, Mr Rao appointed two Deputy Chief Ministers, one from a minority community, Mohammed Mahmood Ali, MLC, who got the plum portfolios of revenue, relief and rehabilitation, ULC, stamps and registration, and the second from the dalit community, Dr T. Rajaiah, who was given the portfolio of medical and health.
There are no women in this first phase of Cabinet formation. There is no representation for Khammam and Mahbubnagar districts, though these will probably follow in the next phase when another six ministers will be appointed.
Telangana Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan administered the oath of office to 60-year-old Mr Rao and his 11-member Cabinet, in Telugu, English and Urdu.
The ceremony began at 8.15 am at Raj Bhavan, which was packed with people from all walks of life, including the kin of those martyred in the cause of Telangana, industrialists, sportsmen etc. Slogans of “Jai Telangana” and “Jai Mana Rashtram” rent the air.
