Dy CM & Speaker To Be Sworn In Tomorrow

The nomination papers of those aspiring to serve as the Deputy Chief Minister and the Speaker were filed between 10:30am and 5pm on Friday, and the elected candidates will be sworn in on Saturday.

Higher Education Minister C Damodar Raja Narasimha will be sworn in as the 7th Deputy CM of the state in an official cermory at 11am on Saturday.

The post of the Deputy CM was offered to Raja Narasimha because he is a dalit hailing from the Telangana region. The Centre reportedly intends to politically satiate the demands for a separate Telangana by handing over an impressive portfolio to a Telangana leader. However, this effort to water down the agitation may go in vain, as the sole surviving ex-Dy CM C Jagannadha Rao has made a public statement that the role of a Deputy CM is only ornamental.

According to sources, Rao explained that the Deputy CM wields no power whatsoever, and that he is not consulted by the CM on any issue of consequence.

Nadendla Manohar had tendered his resignation as the Depuy Speaker on Thursday, and is also expected to be sworn in as the Speaker at the same ceremony on Saturday morning. The post of the Speaker has been lying vacant ever since ex-Speaker Kiran Kumar Reddy vacated the post to serve as the CM.

It has been reported that Congress MLA J C Diwakar Reddy will officiate as the protem Speaker for the election of the speaker.

Government Whip Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka has been nominated to fill the Deputy Speaker seat that has been vacated by Manohar.