35-member cabinet takes oath in Andhra Pradesh
By IANSMonday, May 25, 2009
HYDERABAD - Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Monday constituted a 35-member cabinet, inducting 20 new faces and dropping four ministers who were part of his earlier ministry.
Governor N.D. Tiwari administered the oath to the ministers, including six women, at a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan, the official residence of the governor.
YSR, who took oath as the chief minister for the second consecutive term May 20 following the Congress party’s victory in last month’s elections, included 15 ministers who served in his previous ministry.
He dropped four ministers including senior leaders K. Jana Reddy and J.C. Diwakar Reddy who held the portfolios of home and panchayat raj.
Senior leader K. Rosaiah, who served as finance minister in the earlier cabinet, is the only one to be inducted from the legislative council. All others are members of the state assembly.
Mohammed Ahmedullah is the lone Muslim minister in the new cabinet.
The swearing-in ceremony was held after YSR returned from New Delhi after holding consultations with Congress president Sonia Gandhi and other party leaders.
