The new Telangana Government will be industry, agriculture and employee friendly, announced K Chandrasekhar Rao, the first Chief Minister of the nation’s 29th State.
The 60-year-old chief of the Telangana Rastra Samithi (TRS), popularly known as KCR, boosted the spirits of State Government employees by stating that a special ‘Telangana increment’ will be given and their wages will be brought on par with those of Central Government employees.
KCR and his 11-member team were sworn in by Governor ESL Narasimhan at an austere function in Raj Bhavan at 8.15 in the morning. KCR had a busy Day One, starting with him paying homage to Telangana martyrs at Gun Park and participating in an impressive parade commemorating Telangana formation day at Parade Grounds.
At 12.57 pm, he assumed charge as CM, received greetings from a stream of official dignitaries, well wishers and trade organisations. A CII delegation led by its President Ajay Sriram and L&T metro rail chief VB Gadgil also called on the CM.
KCR held his first meeting with the Council of Ministers. The official logo of the State with the Kakatiya Gateway, Lion Capitol of Asoka and Charminar was cleared. Rajiv Sharma of the 1982 batch has been made the first Chief Secretary of the State, while Anurag Sharma (present city commissioner of Hyderabad) has been made the Director-General of Police. Around 31 IPS officers have also been temporarily allocated to the State cadre.
The Cabinet includes KCR’s son KT Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao; long time loyalists Etela Rajender, Nayani Narasimha Reddy, Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, Padma Rao and Jogu Rajanna. From the minorities, to whom he promised the Deputy CM post, KCR has picked Md. Mohammed Ali. Women are conspicuous by their absence.
KCR elaborated that a new industrial policy with single-window clearance will be announced shortly.
About one-third of pharma and poultry industries in the country are based out of the State and a consultative approach will be adopted to promote these sectors.
Portfolios of Ministers:
1. K Chandrasekhar Rao, Chief Minister: SC, ST, BC, Minorities Welfare, Municipal Administration & Urban Development, Energy, Coal, General Administration and all other portfolios not allotted.
2. Md. Mahamood Ali, Deputy Chief Minister: Revenue, Relief & Rehabilitation, ULC, Stamps & Registration.
3. T Rajaiah, Deputy Chief Minister: Medical & Health.
4. Nayani Narasimha Reddy: Home, Prisons, Fire Services, Sainik Welfare, Labour & Employment.
5. Etela Rajender: Finance & Planning, Small Savings, State Lotteries, Consumer Affairs, Legal Metrology and Civil Supplies.
6. Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy: Agriculture, Horticulture, Sericulture, Animal Husbandry, Fisheries, Dairy Development and Seeds Corporation.
7. T. Harish Rao: Irrigation, Marketing and Legislative Affairs.
8. T. Padma Rao: Excise & Prohibition.
9. P Mahender Reddy: Transport.
10. K T Rama Rao: Panchayat Raj & Information Technology.
11. Jogu Ramanna: Forest and Environment.
12. G Jagadish Reddy: Education