Home is where the heart is, or is it a matter of the heart being where home is? Whatever it may be, for some IAS and IPS officers, despite 11 years passing since Andhra Pradesh and Telangana became two states, confusion over which state they belong to still continues
Home is where the heart is, or is it a matter of the heart being where home is? Whatever it may be, for some IAS and IPS officers, despite 11 years passing since Andhra Pradesh and Telangana became two states, confusion over which state they belong to still continues. A group of Andhra Pradesh-cadre officers working in Telangana were sent back to AP last year by the Central government's department of personnel and training. But many are making a comeback — not through transfers, but through courts. One by one, officers are approaching the High Court and the Central Administrative Tribunal to stay back in Telangana. IPS officer Abhishek Mohanty got the High Court's permission to do so. IAS officer Amrapali Kata got a stay from CAT. Interestingly, IAS officer Lotheti Siva Sankar, who was posted to Telangana, fought in the High Court to return to Andhra Pradesh. It's a game of cadre ping-pong — and the match isn't over yet. The bifurcation may be history, but the cadre drama is very much alive.
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'Dissidence' in Congress new weapons for BJP, BRS
The much-famed and touted "internal democracy" in the Congress looks like it is seriously hurting the party, and despite a new disciplinary action committee, led by MP Mallu Ravi taking charge last month to rein in dissidence, leaders continue to rain trouble, in a clear sign of discipline worsening. Party leaders are openly defying the committee, ignoring warnings and notices. Minister Konda Surekha and her husband Konda Murali clashed publicly with fellow Congress MLAs in Warangal, leading to a war of words that embarrassed the party. Though the committee summoned Murali to Gandhi Bhavan, he attended and gave his explanation but addressed the media again, hitting out at district in-charge minister and Warangal MLAs — breaking party rules again. In another blow, Jadcherla MLA J. Anirudh Reddy openly alleged that "Chandrababu Naidu coverts" were cornering government contracts within Congress. Even as Mallu Ravi appears to have to work cut out, the buzz in Gandhi Bhavan is that these public spats are not just damaging the party's image, but giving the BRS and the BJP new weapons to attack the ruling Congress.
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For factories director, it's production first, safety later
The Sigachi industrial unit disaster that killed at least 40 workers, and more still missing, has turned into a showpiece for how the department of factories, vested with keeping factories and workers safe, functions. And making matters probably worse was the department's director B. Rajagopala Rao who willy-nilly timed his comments on how safety can even be a third priority in industries, just five days before the disaster. Sure, none could have seen the accident coming, but Rajagopala Rao's comments at a specially organised meeting on June 25 by the CII on safety in chemical and pharma units in the states that as long as industries are compliant with safety norms, then safety can even be a third priority. What is important is quality and production without which a business cannot exist, and that is why he believes that safety can be assigned a third priority spot, was part of the takeaway from his speech that is now raising eyebrows in industry circles.
BRS leader seeks safety in KCR farm
The strong sense of sentiments many politicians hold, with changes they bring about to their offices and homes, or the clothes they wear not or making any changes reflecting the strong faith they have in such beliefs. Take the case of former Armoor MLA A. Jeevan Reddy from the BRS who won in 2014 and in 2018, but lost in the 2023 elections. Former chief
minister K. Chandrashekar Rao had the first time announced the Armoor candidate and continued with that tradition. Though things didn't work out in 2023 that does not appear to have deterred Jeevan Reddy from staying close to his mentor KCR and spending a lot of time at the latter's farmhouse. While some say it was all about sentiment, there are others claiming that the former MLA is in some financial mess and the best way to stay safe was to seek refuge in KCR's farmhouse. And the truth, according to some party insiders, lies somewhere between sentimental value and the value of seeking a safe place.
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Premsagar shares his berth pangs with Kharge
His heart set on bigger things than just being an MLA, Congress legislator from Mancherial K. Premsagar Rao who was hoping to find a place in the Cabinet and was left out, made it clear that the dice either rolls the way he wants, or that is a no-dice situation. And the man who was at the receiving end of this was none other than Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge. But apparently, there were no promises forthcoming despite Premsagar seeking justice based on his contributions to the party in the last 20 years. Premsagar even apparently told Kharge how he lost his health and wealth due to the vendetta politics of the BRS and its rule, and how he strengthened the party in the erstwhile Adilabad district as a committed Congress party leader, unlike other leaders, but in the end, to no avail.
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Minister Anitha suffers a hair rising moment
Photo ops for politicians are usually about all smiles and positivity. But then at times, Murphy's Law comes striking and when it does, it does so pretty hard. This was the case with AP's home minister V. Anitha who the other day sat down for a meal with students at a BC Girls Hostel in Payakaraopeta, Anakapalle district. Anitha was following her boss and Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's instructions that outreach to people is a must, and this should be driven not by the pursuit of publicity but out of a desire to do meaningful things. As Anitha was having her meal, and photographs were being taken of her joining the students and enjoying her food, she reportedly found a hair strand in her food, but soon, YSRC social media accounts were running with a story that a cockroach was found in the food leaving Anitha and her team indignant
Jagan's Nellore visit hits a thorny patch - literally
Politics can get thorny, something everyone in that business knows, but just how thorny came home to Former chief minister and YSRC chief Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy's aides as they prepared for his visit to Nellore. The problem? The once high-flying politician has been told that the helicopter he will use can land on an open patch near the Nellore jail, and not in other established landing locations in the town. Soon, YSRC leaders were scratching hard at the government and the officials accusing them that the permitted landing spot had a lot of thorny growth on the ground, high tension power cables above. YSRC fingers have been pointing at Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy, the Nellore Rural MLA who used to be with YSRC, is now in the TD. The YSRC meanwhile, has taken its flight plans to the Andhra Pradesh High Court hoping for a smooth and safe landing for Jagan when he finally sets off for his Nellore visit.
In Vizag, pesky mosquitoes create a job problem
It's all about the buzzing of mosquitoes in Vizag these days and if the way things are going, these pesky insects may be set to wing their way all over the city forming blood sucking squadrons. As the city waits for the battle against mosquitoes to begin, a bigger battle on who gets to pick how many workers for the anti-mosquito drive is playing out in the city hall. After the Vizag municipal authorities announced 434 temporary posts for anti-malaria workers, a gentlemen's agreement was apparently reached allowing each MLA to recommend people for 10 posts each with corporators getting three each. But the MLAs have upped the ante, demanding that each be allowed to nominate 40 anti-malaria workers putting the newly elected Mayor Peela Srinivasa Rao in a tight spot. The posts are seasonal and last four months with a salary of Rs 15,000 a month.
