Telangana: KCR to take oath with one cabinet minister tomorrow; party keen on federal front

Rao was on Wednesday elected leader of the legislature party, paving the way for his return as Chief Minister for the second straight term.

K Chandrasekhar Rao is all set for his second straight term as CM in Telangana. Photo: AFP

New Delhi: Telangana CM-designate K Chandrasekhar Rao, who spearheaded TRS to a landslide victory in the assembly election, announced that he is likely to take oath on Thursday, for his second consecutive term. One minister from his cabinet will also take oath along with him on Thursday and further expansion of the cabinet will be done later. Rao was on Wednesday elected leader of the legislature party, paving the way for his return as Chief Minister for the second straight term. The newly-elected MLAs met at Telangana Bhavan, the TRS headquarters and took the decision unanimously, the party sources said. He will take his oath at a ceremony at around 1.30 pm at the Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad under the administration of Governor ESL Narasimhan. Rao who emerged stronger as the leader of a Non-BJP and Non-Congress front said when Prime Minister Modi being the CM of Gujarat focused nationally, why couldn’t he? He also did not rule out giving the responsibility of the front to son KT Rama Rao who held different portfolios namely Information Technology (IT), Municipal Administration and Urban Development (MAUD), Textiles and NRI Affairs, in caretaker government. Earlier in the day KT Rama Rao had said "a non-Congress and non-BJP force is emerging from Telangana. We are very keen on a federal front, strong regional voices need to be heard." KCR said that his party will also make an entry in Andhra Pradesh, as Naidu did in Telangana for the assembly polls. On Tuesday AIMIM Chief Asaduddin Owaisi also said that he will make an entry in Andhra Pradesh and expressed confidence of defeating Chandrababu Naidu in his state. In the December 7 assembly elections, the TRS had won 88 seats in the 119-member House.  Rao was re-elected from Gajwel in Siddipet district by a margin of 58,290 votes.