Padma Rao to be new deputy speaker of Telangana

HYDERABAD: Former minister and

Secunderabad legislator T Padma Rao

will succeed Padma Devender Reddy as the new deputy speaker of the

legislative assembly

. A notification for the election of deputy speaker will be released by the

assembly secretariat

on Saturday and election will be held on Monday.


Padma Rao, who held excise and sports portfolios in the previous cabinet, did not get a berth in the recent

cabinet expansion

. chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, who assured him of justice and a post equivalent to that of a cabinet minister rank, decided to make

Padma Rao

the deputy speaker, sources averred.

Sources said the chief minister called up all the party leaders and requested them to come forward for unanimous election of deputy speaker.

Once the election of the deputy speaker gets over, KCR is expected to announce the names of chief whip, whip and other posts.

Meanwhile, the business advisory committee (BAC), chaired by speaker Pocharam Srinivas Reddy, finalised an agenda for the session, which will conclude on February 25. It has been decided to take up discussion on budget on Saturday and the appropriation bill on Monday.