The five Congress leaders (who are newly inducted into the central cabinet) from the state have sworn in as the central ministers. Dr. K. Chiranjeevi (tourism ministry), Kotla Surya Prakash Reddy, Sarvey Satyanarayana, Balaram Naik and Killi Krupa Rani are the leaders who were sworn in by the President Pranab Mukherjee. While Chiranjeevi, Kotla, Sarvey and Killi Krupa Rani took the oath in English, Balaram Naik took it in Hindi. Chiranjeevi was the first person from the state today to take the oath. He is going to take over as the minister of HRD.

Prime minister Manmohan Singh, UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and opposition party leader Sushma Swaraj, MP Gulam Nabi Azad were present at Ashok Hall where the oath taking took place.  As many as 22 members took the oath of office today.

(AW Phani)