Minister for higher education and agriculture C. Damodar Raj Narasimha has been appointed Andhra Pradesh’s new deputy chief minister.
On the advice of chief minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, governor E.S.L. Narasimhan issued a formal notification on Friday evening appointing Mr Narasimha to the post.
Mr Narasimha will continue to hold both his earlier portfolios for the time being. There will also be no formal swearing-in ceremony.
Mr Koneru Ranga Rao was the last deputy chief minister of the state in 1994. Though there is no provision in the statute books for the appointment of a deputy chief minister, the appointment is made whenever it is politically expedient.
In fact, in the “gentlemen’s agreement” between Andhra and Telangana leaders before the formation of Andhra Pradesh in 1956, it was clearly mentioned that whenever the chief minister’s post goes to one region, the deputy chief minister’s post will be held by someone from the other region.
But this has not always been followed.
During the 17-year rule of the Telugu Desam Party headed by Mr N.T. Rama Rao and Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu, there was no deputy chief minister.
Mr Raj Narasimha will be only the sixth deputy chief minister of the state. Mr Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy held the post twice.