Telangana CM expands Cabinet; rewards TDP defectors

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao today expanded his 12-member Cabinet with the induction of six members, including two who recently quit the Telugu Desam Party to join the ruling TRS.

The six members inducted are A Indrakaran Reddy, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, Tummala Nageswara Rao, C Laxma Reddy, Jupally Krishna Rao and A Chandulal.

They were administered oath of office and secrecy by Governor E S L Narasimhan at Raj Bhavan.

Yadav, who won from Sanatnagar segment (in Hyderabad city) in the elections on TDP ticket, recently joined the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS), and today announced his resignation from the membership of the Assembly before the swearing-in.

He told reporters that he would seek re-election and thanked Rao for inducting him into the Cabinet.

Yadav's entry into the Cabinet is expected to help TRS in Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation election, likely to be held next year, as he is a senior leader in the city.

The Cabinet expansion is the first since the TRS government assumed office on June two this year.

Former Minister Nageswara Rao, who is not a member of either House of the Legislature, had switched loyalty to the TRS recently and was rewarded with a berth.