KCR expands cabinet, leaves out son, nephew

In a surprise move, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao Tuesday left out his son K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao during the cabinet expansion that saw induction of ten ministers.

Ending over two months of speculation, Rao expanded his two-member cabinet after he rode to a thumping victory in the December 7 assembly elections to the state.

Six new faces – S Niranjan Reddy, Koppula Eashwar, Errabelli Dayakar Rao, V Srinivas Goud, Vemula Prashanth Reddy and Ch Malla Reddy -- found berth in the Council of Ministers.

A Indrakaran Reddy, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, G Jagadish Reddy and Etela Rajender, who were part of the cabinet in Rao's previous term, returned as ministers.

Harish Rao, who earlier served as Irrigation Minister, did not figure in the list, as also Rama Rao.

Andhra Pradesh and Te lang ana Governor ESL Narasimhan administered them the oath of office and secrecy at Raj Bhavan, in the presence of thechief minister, taking the Cabinet size to 12.

Meanwhile, the CM said the Centre needs to come out with an 'amnesty scheme' for tax evaders in order to encourage them to disclose black money.

The tax payer may voluntarily pay even if it is just Re 1, the release quoted KCR as saying.