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Telangana Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan greets newly sworn in Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao at Raj Bhawan in Hyderabad. Image Credit: PTI

Hyderabad: Kalvakuntla Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) has taken charge as the chief minister of Telangana state for the second consecutive term on Thursday.

State governor ESL Narasimhan administered him the oath of office and secrecy at an impressive ceremony at Raj Bhavan. Mohammad Mahmood Ali, deputy chief minister in the earlier cabinet, was the only other minister to take oath along with KCR. While Rao took oath in Telugu, Mahmood Ali read out the oath in Urdu. Both took oath in the name of God. The gathering on the occasion included the family members of KCR, several former ministers, newly elected MLAs and other leaders. All India Mjlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi also attended the swearing-in ceremony.

Invitation to Mahmood Ali to take oath was sent at the last moment as KCR decided to induct him in the cabinet this morning.

Chief Minister, an ardent believer in astrology, numerology and religious rituals took the oath at 1.26pm, an “auspicious” time fixed by the religious seers. The time for the oath was fixed in consultation with the priest of Yadadri Temple, which KCR was developing as “Tirupati of Telangana”.

Sources said that KCR had started the process of consultations with the senior party leaders to finalise the composition of his council of ministers. Other ministers were likely to take the oath next week, sources said.

Political observers say that KCR was having a problem of plenty as in addition to 88 members of his own party two more newly elected MLAs K Chander of Forward Block and an independent member L Ramulu Naik were also all set to join the TRS.

KCR, 64, who was unanimously elected as the leader of TRS Legislature Party yesterday was likely to retain Mahmood Ali as one of his deputy chief ministers. Senior member Kadiam Srihari was the other deputy CM.

There were also speculations that former home minister N Narasimha Reddy may be dropped.

While his son K T Rama Rao and nephew T Harish Rao were certain to find a place in the cabinet, attention was focused on whether he would induct any woman into the cabinet. KCR completed his first tenure without any woman in the cabinet. The name of former deputy speaker Padma Devender Reddy was doing the rounds among the women to be inducted.

However the first task before KCR was to finalise the name of candidate for the crucial position of Speaker of the state assembly. Former Speaker S Madhusudhan Chary was defeated in the elections and KCR was looking for a suitable replacement. Sources said that the former finance minister E. Rajinder was among the names under consideration.