Reddy, the MLA from Bodhan, was appointed as an advisor to the government, while K Prem Sagar Rao, the MLA of Mancherial, became the chairman of Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation.
Photo: IANS
While former cricketer and Congress leader Mohammad Azharuddin took oath as minister in the Telangana Cabinet on Friday, the ruling party hurriedly placated two senior leaders — P Sudarshan Reddy and K Prem Sagar Rao — by appointing them to posts with Cabinet rank.
Reddy, the MLA from Bodhan, was appointed as an advisor to the government, while K Prem Sagar Rao, the MLA of Mancherial, became the chairman of Telangana State Civil Supplies Corporation. Both have made their aspirations for ministerial posts clear in the past.
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Governor Jishnu Dev Varma administered the oath of office and secrecy to the former cricketer at the Durbar Hall of the Raj Bhavan in the presence of the chief ministers and several senior ministers and the Speaker of the State Legislative Assembly.
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The government orders appointing Sudarshan Reddy and Prem Sagar Rao were also issued today. Sudarshan Reddy would be overseeing the implementation of all flagship welfare and developmental schemes with district collectors and secretaries of the department and would enjoy both Cabinet rank and status. His pay and perks, including residential accommodation, will be at par with a Cabinet minister and will be a special invitee to all Cabinet meetings.
The government even transferred special chief secretary Sabyasachi Ghosh to head the Implementation of Flagship Welfare and Developmental Schemes unit under Sudarshan Reddy.
Meanwhile, labour minister Vivek Venkataswamy lashed out at the BJP, saying the party was trying to create controversy only because the new minister belonged to the minority community. He said that although Congress had set aside three seats for Muslim candidates in the Assembly elections, none of them could win.
In addition, BRS went to the court and got the MLC appointments under the Governor’s quota negated. The minister assured that Azharuddin will get elected as an MLC in February.
He said, “The Congress party has provided both ministerial and leadership positions to members of the Muslim community.” Azharuddin has six months to get elected to either of the bicameral legislatures.
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