Khammam: Violation of protocol by officials at government events in Khammam and Bhadradri-Kothagudem districts and ego clashes between two of its legislators have emerged as a major problem to the TRS high command and transport minister Ajay Kumar.
State government chief whip and TRS MLA from Pinapaka Regakantha Rao has openly criticised officials for violating protocol at government programmes in Kothagudem while unveiling a BR Ambedkar statue. He said he will take up the matter with the chief secretary and speaker. The issue also exposed the wedge between Pinapaka and Kothagudem MLA Vanama Venkateswara Rao.
The officials had not mentioned the name of Regakantha Rao in the flexis set up for the event. Further, the event held in Kothagudem was not conducted as per protocol. The municipal chairperson of Kothagudem should have presided over the event but MLA Vanama Rao did it.
As per protocol, Regakantha Rao as chief whip should be invited to address the event after minister Ajay Kumar, but it was not to be. The Pinapaka MLA said, “We feel the protocol violation is done at the instance of somebody and I will not leave the issue at that. Being chief whip and an adivasi MLA, I expect some respect at government programmes. This is a serious flaw.”
Ninister Ajay Kumar faced embarrassment at the sudden discontentment of Regakantha Rao but maintained silence.
Sources said a cold war is on between Vanama Rao and Regakantha Rao for some time now. Vanama Rao and Regakantha Rao tried to set up a food processing unit in Pinapaka constituency and Kothaguem MLA Vanama Rao used his influence and got it sanctioned for Kothagudem constituency.
Adivasi and Dalit organisations took out a rally in Kothagudem condemning the “highhandedness” of Vanama Rao and his son Raghavender. Bahujana Ikya Vedika leader Kamesh said the protocol violation that hurt Adivasi MLA Regakantha Rao took place at the behest of Raghavender. He said the government should take action against him.
The wedge between the two TRS MLAs, who got elected on Congress ticket and subsequently joined the TRS, has come as a pain to the TRS high command.
In Bhadrachalam, Congress MLA Podum Veeraiah had also raised the protocol issue at a programme held at Padamatanarasapuram in Dummugudem mandal. Veeraiah said, “Protocol violation is an everyday affair during government programmes and I was not invited as per the protocol.”
