K T Rama Rao Set To Replace Father KCR As CM?

While the rumour that Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao will soon give up his position to make way for his son K T Rama Rao to become the new CM has been doing the rounds for quite some time, the comments of several senior TRS leaders and MLAs suggest that the rumour will soon become a reality.

If sources from the CM's inner circle are to be believed, the transition might even occur as early as next month - according to political circles, the CM's heir apparent, TRS working president and Telangana IT and Industries Minister K T Rama Rao, is all set to replace his father and to become the next CM of the state.

Health Minister Etala Rajender today commented on the issue as well, and said, "If the need for change arises, Chief Minister KCR will himself hand over the reins to KTR. And, what is wrong if KTR does become the next CM? He has been committed to the development of the state. Moreover, almost all the programs of the TRS government are already being reviewed by KTR. He even participated in the Covid-19 vaccination drive on behalf of his father - the incumbent CM."

"The CM may take a call on the change in guard any time now," Rajender added.

Another minister in KCR's cabinet, and a close aide of the CM, Talasani Srinivas Yadav, also echoed Rajender's opinions, and said that it was very likely that the IT minister would soon take over his father's post.

"He is an able and efficient leader who is more than capable of leading the state as its CM. Why then should he not be appointed to the post?" Yadav asked.

A third senior Cabinet minister, who wished to remain anonymous, also recently confirmed the rumours.

"Yes, KTR is going to succeed his father as CM, and although the details of the handover are still being discussed, this transition is likely to take place in February. We are also expecting many changes within the cabinet," he said.

Recently, Legislative Council Chairman G Sukhender Reddy and Legislative Assembly Speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy too came out in support of the possible switch.

Their remarks also suggested that following the appointment, Finance Minister T Harish Rao would replace KTR as the next TRS working president.

Besides the many prominent party leaders who expressed their support for KTR's eventual ascension to the post of CM, Nizamabad MLA Bajireddy Govardhan Reddy and Dornakal MLA D S Redya Naik also made similar remarks.

Ever since current CM K Chandrashekar Rao took a step back from public life after the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, his son K T Rama Rao took up most of the former's duties, leading to speculations regarding a possible change in guard. It now seems more likely than ever that the CM's son will replace him during the current term of TRS government, which will end in December, 2023.