KCR sworn in as Telangana's first Chief Minister

In a historic event marking culmination of the long-drawn process of the bifurcation of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) President K Chandrasekhar Rao took oath as the first chief minister of Telangana, which became the 29th state of the country on Monday.

The President’s Rule, which is in place in united Andhra Pradesh, was revoked partially to facilitate the swearing-in of a new government under KCR.

Eleven others were also sworn in as Cabinet Ministers by Governor E S L Narasimhan, who administered them oath of office and secrecy at Raj Bhavan.

The Cabinet included Rao's son K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao.

Nine other Cabinet Ministers are Mohammed Mahmood Ali, T Rajaiah, Nayani Narasimha Reddy, Eatela Rajender, Pocharam Srinivasa Reddy, T Padma Rao, P Mahender Reddy, Jogu Ramanna and G Jagadish Reddy.

The ruling TRS, other political parties and Telangana supporters have lined up a number of events in Hyderabad and elsewhere to celebrate the realisation of the decades-long dream.

TRS activists and supporters have already painted Hyderabad pink, the colour of TRS flag, by installing huge cut-outs, banners, festoons and balloons hailing their leader.

Central rule will, however, continue in residual Andhra Pradesh till Telugu Desam Party chief N Chandrababu Naidu takes charge as chief minister a week later.

TRS secured a majority in the recent Legislative Assembly elections by winning 63 of the 119 seats in the Telangana region.

KCR is reportedly considering expanding his Cabinet towards the end of the month. The TRS government is expected to announce lifting of police cases filed against Telangana supporters during the separate statehood agitation and announce benefits for the families of those who died in support of the separate statehood demand, among the major decisions to be taken soon after assuming office.

The buzz is that senior IAS officer Rajiv Sharma, who is presently working in the Union Home Ministry, and incumbent Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anurag Sharma are likely to take over as the Chief Secretary and DGP of Telangana respectively.