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Marking an end to the confusion that had emerged after the passing away of the ruling Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, a new set of ministers was sworn in afresh on Sunday, forming the new cabinet of the state.
They were sworn in at a simple ceremony which was held at the Raj Bhavan in Hyderabad on Sunday.
This decision was taken by Governor N D Tiwari, who after with the legal advisors, disclosed that revamping of the Cabinet was essential. YSR’s Financial Minister, K Rosaiah, had been sworn in as the care-taker Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh on Thursday.
As some of the ministers had disclosed that they were not ready to swear in under anyone other than YSR’s son, Jaganmohan, the number of ministers who actually took the oath is not clear.
Former ministers like P Ramachandra Reddy, J Krishna Rao and Syed Ahmadullah had disclosed that they will take the oath only if they were to work under Jaganmohan.
YSR had passed away in a chopper crash on last Wednesday, immersing the whole state in grief and confusion.
Legal experts have stressed that new ministers sworn as a new Chief Minister had taken oath.
Rosaiah, who had been sworn in on Thursday, had written to the Governor, to resolve the confusion, who enquired the state Chief Secretary P Ramakanth Reddy about the legal stand of the issue.
Accordingly, the chief secretary and state advocate General Seetarama Murthy met the Governor late Saturday night and reportedly conveyed to him that the ministers had to be sworn in at the earliest.
Official sources said legal and constitutional experts in New Delhi were also consulted.
"Since a controversy has arisen over the status of ministers, the concluding view was that it would be better to administer fresh oath of office to them so as to avoid any constitutional violation," a top-ranking official in the General Administration Department said.
"Accordingly, the ministers of the erstwhile Cabinet will be administered the oath of office once again," he said.
