Cabinet expansion and national politics on KCR’s agenda

TRS Chief K Chandrasekhar Rao has returned from his trip to Odisha, West Bengal and New Delhi on Friday rekindling hopes of Cabinet aspirants.

The party president and chief minister is keeping everyone guessing as he roped in only one MLA, Mohammad Mahmud Ali, in his cabinet and has made no announcement about his next move.

Few party MPs who met KCR in Delhi before he left for Hyderabad, say that next round can be anytime before January 4, and the rest only after Sankranthi.

Known for his penchant for traditions and astrology, KCR is said to have been looking for an auspicious time to expand his cabinet that could accommodate up to 18 ministers.

It is also believed that the chief minister will also have to pick someone as Speaker of the Assembly before calling the first session of the Assembly.

There are also certain issues that KCR has to decide as his son K Tarakarama Rao, who was the state's information and technology minster has now been appointed as the party's working president.

There is also a possibility that KCR might contest for the post of MP from Nalgonda, offering the sitting MP Gutta Sukhender Reddy an alternative post either in the Cabinet or as a chairman of any corporation.

“I am thinking in redesigning ministries. For instance agriculture, different sectors are under different ministries, so I am taking time as there is no hurry like in 2014,” KCR said addressing a press conference on Saturday.

However, he said that the new cabinet will be a mix of experienced and few new faces.

He further said that there is no such rule that those elected in elections are not MLAs unless sworn in.

Dropping enough indications of KCR’s plans for a Federal Front, the party has sought for a suitable location to build a party office in New Delhi.

According to Karimnagar MP Vinod Kumar the party was given an option to choose from three different locations based on strength of the party in the Lok Sabha.

TRS will be depositing Rs 5 crore for a 1,200 square yard of land to build a party office in Delhi.

The locations the party MPs’ have visited include Saket, Deendayal Marg and Vasant Vihar.