Telangana cabinet expansion unlikely now Hyderabad: The much-awaited expansion of the Chandrasekhar Rao Cabinet is likely to be delayed and the ministerial-hopefuls will have to wait till Diwali season to test their fortunes.
The main reason being cited for the delay is the expected inflow of senior leaders into the TRS from other parties. The Chief Minister is adopting a wait and watch approach to make an assessment of the leaders expected to join the ruling party as some of them will have to be accommodated in the Cabinet.
The shortage of All India Service officers, in the wake of State bifurcation, is also a factor responsible for the delay in Cabinet expansion, it is said in official circles.
There is an expectation in the TRS circles that some legislators from other parties would join the ruling party in coming days. A senior Telugu Desam Party leader from Khammam district, Tummala Nageswar Rao, resigned from the party and is now all set to join TRS.
Earlier, Vyra MLA Madan Lal quit YSR Congress party to join TRS. Sources said that Congress MLA from Yellendu K Kanakaiah, who quit on Sunday, is also set to join TRS soon.
Earlier, it was expected that the ruling party would go for Cabinet expansion in July but the plan was deferred because it was considered an inauspicious period. There are many aspirants in the party for the Cabinet berths.
At present, the Cabinet has 12 members including the Chief Minister. There is scope for induction of another six members.
Sources said that the Chief Minister was waiting for the process of distribution of IAS officers to be completed so that he can have a full-fledged team of senior officials to assist the ministers. Presently, one senior officer has been handling three to four departments and there has been a problem in coordination.
News Posted: 1 September, 2014
|