Nellore: The differences between Nellore Mayor Abdul Aziz and Urban development minister P. Narayana seem to be deepening with the latter's advice to give priority to constituency in-charges of Telugu Desam in allotment of funds for development works in Nellore Municipal Corporation (NMC).
Mr Aziz, who was a student of Narayana when he was a lecturer at the VR College before floating Narayana Educational Institutions, is aspiring for Nellore City Assembly seat. He feels any submission to the minister will undermine his position and give leverage to the in-charges.
He is also against any interference in his work. His followers claim that the minister does not involve him in taking decisions related to NMC, especially posting of officials such as Commissioners.
They feel that the minister is sidelining the Mayor intentionally. Also, a section of TD leaders eyeing for the Mayor post, are unhappy with Mr Aziz ever since he left YSR Congress and was elected as Mayor.
A senior TD leader said they would have had control over all the development works in the Corporation by diverting the funds to Pubic Health Department for execution of works had the Mayor remained in YSR Congress.
He alleged that Mr Aziz is not taking all the TD Corporators into confidence leading to resentment in the party circles. Mr Narayana is also upset with the Mayor because he is ignoring the TD Assembly segment in-charges as well as the policy of the party.
“The party high command considers that the party is very weak in Nellore district, where YSR Congress bagged 7 seats out of 10, and particular about strengthening the hands of TD legislators and assembly segment in-charges to strengthen the party base. Since the minister is aware of this, he has been trying to convince the Mayor to consult segment in-charges before grounding any works in their areas,” a senior party leader said.
When contacted, Mayor Abdul Aziz said he is doing his job and he don't have any differences with the Minister or TD Corporators and some vested interests have been floating the rumours because they are idle. He added that he will not differ with the minister or the party either now or in future in the interest of people.
