KTR next only to CM in Telangana power equation

In a calculated reshuffling of the departments, KTR, as he is referred to, has been allotted all the revenue departments with the clear intent of giving him visibility second only to the chief minister. This has been achieved by two changes: entrusting KTR with all crucial portfolios and reducing the importance of other ministers by giving them relatively lighter departments.

After the reshuffle, KTR will now look after, besides IT and Municipal Administration, the departments of Mines and Geology, Industries, and NRI affairs.

The importance of IT for Hyderabad is a given. The attractions of Municipal Administration and Urban Development lie in the control of GHMC and Metro Rail. In the backdrop of a flow of investments into Telangana, KTR has been entrusted with Industries as well.

As for lessening the importance of other ministers, Jupally Krishna Rao lost Industries. He has been allotted Panchayat Raj and Rural Development without Mission Bhagiratha, Telangana's water grid scheme. 

Talasani Srinivas Yadava, who is known as the strongman of Hyderabad, has been divested of Commercial Taxes, a crucial revenue department which now will be under the control of  the CM. Yadava has been given Animal Husbandry and Fisheries instead. Even the CM's nephew and T Harish Rao, who has Irrigation, lost Mining to his cousin.

• KT Ramarao
• K Chandrasekhar Rao
• Telangana