KCR takes charge as Telangana chief minister
Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) has taken charge as the chief minister of Telangana state for the second consecutive term yesterday.
State Governor ESL Narasimhan administered him the oath of office and secrecy at an impressive ceremony at Raj Bhavan. Mohammad Mahmood Ali, deputy chief minister in the earlier cabinet, was the only other minister to take oath along with KCR. While Rao took oath in Telugu, Mahmood Ali read out the oath in Urdu. Both took oath in the name of God. The gathering on the occasion included the family members of KCR, several former ministers, newly elected MLAs and other leaders. All India Mjlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi also attended the swearing-in ceremony.
Invitation to Mahmood Ali to take oath was sent at the last moment as KCR decided to induct him in the cabinet yesterday morning.
The chief minister, an ardent believer in astrology, numerology and religious rituals took the oath at 1.26pm, an “auspicious” time fixed by the religious seers. The time for the oath was fixed in consultation with the priest of Yadadri Temple, which KCR was developing as ‘Tirupati of Telangana’.
Sources said that KCR had started the process of consultations with the senior party leaders to finalise the composition of his council of ministers. Other ministers were likely to take the oath next week, sources said.
Political observers say that KCR was having a problem of plenty as in addition to 88 members of his own party two more newly elected MLAs K Chander of Forward Block and an independent member L Ramulu Naik were also all set to join the TRS.