KCR Includes Son KTR and Nephew Harish Rao Among Six New Ministers.

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Sunday expanded his 12-member cabinet by inducting six ministers, including his son KT Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao. The other ministers are Sabitha Indra Reddy, Gangula Kamalakar, Satyavati Rathod and Puvvada Ajay Kumar.

On February 19, Rao had expanded his two-member cabinet after he rode to a thumping victory in the December 7, 2018 state assembly elections, by inducting 10 ministers. The new ministers took the oath on Sunday by Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan at the Raj Bhavan, in the presence of the Chief Minister.

K Tarakarama Rao (KTR), who was left out of the cabinet after TRS returned to power in December 2018, has been made Minister of IT, Municipal Administration and Urban Development. These were very same portfolios KTR handled during KCR’s first term. As IT Minister, KTR is credited with bringing several industrial and IT projects to the state of Telangana. Following TRS’s sweep in the 2018 polls, he was made working president of the party following the elections.

Harish Rao is credited with being the driving force behind the commissioning of the ambitious Kaleshwaram lift irrigation project, during his previous tenure. Though the leader enjoys strong support among TRS cadre, there has been speculation of a rift between cousins KTR and Harish Rao. While Harish was touted to be the immediate successor to KCR, KTR’s return from the US in 2006 and entry into politics shifted the narrative.

KTR and Harish Rao's re-induction is being dubbed as the CM's attempt to rejuvenate the government.