CM puts B Vinod on Planning Board

Hyderabad: Former TRS MP B Vinod Kumar has been appointed as vice-chairman of the Telangana State Planning Board for a term of 3 years in the rank of Cabinet minister with immediate effect.

Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao on Friday signed the file pertaining to his appointment. As the board vice-chairman, Vinod is entrusted with an important responsibility of preparation of budget proposals for all departments.

This assumes importance as the government has to present its full-fledged budget for 2019-20 in the Assembly in September.

The order said that Vinod will enjoy the status of a cabinet minister and will be a permanent invitee to the State Cabinet meetings. The chief minister said that Vinod is appointed in the key post considering the TRS leader's vast experience in politics, administration as well as his knowledge on the socio-economic and geographical aspects of Telangana.

The government will utilise services of the Planning Board vice-chairman to the optimal level, the CM said. Vinod contested unsuccessfully from Karimnagar Lok Sabha seat in the just-concluded general elections.

He was elected MP from the same segment in 2014 elections. The senior TRS leader has been playing an important role in the party ever since KCR launched the Telangana movement in 2001.