Naidu, KCR to decide cabinet in 15 days

HYDERABAD: Time flies when one is enjoying power. But, how will it be when the chief ministers-to-be have to await for a fortnight to assume office?

Both TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and TRS president K Chandrasekhar Rao, who are all set to become the first CMs of residuary Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states respectively, are facing this peculiar situation as they could not be sworn in before June 2, the appointed day for the formation of the two states.

In view of this, both Naidu and Rao want to use the 15 days for finalising names for their respective Cabinets. According to sources, Naidu has already begun the exercise of setting priorities for his new role as the CM of the residuary State.

Apart from zeroing in on the names of his party MLAs those are to be taken into his Cabinet, the TDP chief is also understood to have started the exercise on the new capital.

Party insiders say leaders belonging to Coastal Andhra districts are exerting pressure on Naidu to locate the new capital somewhere between the Vijayawada- Guntur stretch, which is dominated by the Kamma community, the party's traditional vote-bank.

Two key leaders of the party from Guntur district, Kodela Sivaprasada Rao and Rayapati Sambasiva Rao, have started saying they are sure that the capital of Seemandhra would be somewhere between Vijayawada and Guntur.

Their argument is that both the cities have sufficient infrastructure and are also closer to the river Krishna. On the other hand, Rayalaseema leaders of the TDP are pressurising Naidu to locate the capital in their region.

Their first choice is Tirupati, the temple town, which is in the TDP president's native district of Chittoor. As for the Cabinet composition, the TDP chief is said to be in favour of constituting his council of ministers with a blend of seasoned politicos and youngsters, keeping with his strategy of wooing the young.

Meanwhile, TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao too is learnt to have begun the task of deciding his priorities for the new State. As Rao has to meet the expectations of the people of his region, he is understood to be taking every care while deciding his new Cabinet.

TDP MAHANADU ON MAY 27, 28

The TDP is gearing up for party's annual conclave Mahanadu at Gandipet on the outskirts of Hyderabad for two days from May 27. TDP chief Naidu is planning it in a big way.

Prior to this, the TDP president will hold constituency wise review meetings with his party leaders from both Telangana and Seemandhra on May 23 and 24 to analyse the party's performance in the recently-concluded general polls.