Farooq and Sravan sworn in as Ministers

Chief Minister promises to strive for the welfare of the minorities and tribals

N. Md. Farooq and Kidari Sravan Kumar were sworn in as Ministers by Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan at Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s residence in Amaravati on Sunday.

This takes the strength of the Cabinet to 26.

The decision to give representation to the minorities and tribals in the Cabinet seems to have been taken with an eye on the 2019 elections. Mr. Sravan is the son of Araku MLA, Sarveswara Rao, who had been killed by the Maoists recently.

Portfolios

Sources in the CMO said that Mr. Farooq was allocated the subjects of Minority Welfare, Health, APMSIDC, Food Safety, and NTR Health University and Mr. Sravan Kumar given the responsibility of Tribal Welfare, Primary Health, Family Welfare, Vaidya Vidhana Parishad, Drug Control and Ayush ministries. Sources also said that Minister for Social Welfare Nakka Ananda Babu was given then the additional responsibility of Cinematography.

However, an official announcement is yet to come on the allocation of the portfolios. Addressing the media after the swearing-in ceremony, Mr. Naidu said all the Ministers should cooperate with the new members of the Cabinet. “Mr. Sravan is an IIT graduate. He is preparing for the civil services. Instead of becoming a civil servant, he has become a Minister. We will groom him into a good leader. We will also offer Group-I post to Mr. Sravan’s brother and help his sister become a doctor,” Mr. Naidu said. Abraham, son of former MLA Siveri Soma who was also killed along with Sarveswara Rao, was appointed a member of the SC, ST Commission.

Mr. Naidu said he would strive for the welfare of the minorities and tribals.

He said Mr. Farooq had vast political experience and was an efficient leader. Mr. Farooq had earlier served as a Minister and Chairman of the Legislative Council.