NORTH-SOUTH QUARREL FOR TOP TTD POST
IN
A row over selection of an IAS officer for the post of TTD executive officer has stalled the proposed reshuffle of IAS officers in AP.
The issue has left AP cadre IAS officers split into two groups — Telugu IAS officers and those of North Indian origin.
According to well-placed sources, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu is considering the names of principal revenue secretary, (endowments) J.S.V. Prasad and principal secretary, panchayat raj department K.S. Jawahar Reddy.
However, North Indian IAS officers are exerting pressure on Mr Naidu to appoint Ashok Kumar Singhal, resident commissioner of AP Bhavan in Delhi, to the post.
The sources said that two days ago, panchayat raj minister Nara Lokesh asked Mr Jawahar Reddy to continue in his post. But Mr Jawahar Reddy told Mr Lokesh that he wanted a change since he has been working in the panchayat raj department since a long time.
He was then asked by Mr Lokesh to take up the responsibility of TTD executive officer which he accepted.
Later, Mr Lokesh sent the proposal to Mr Naidu.
Mr Naidu was already considering the names of Mr Prasad and Mr Jawahar Reddy when some top North Indian IAS officers requested him to appoint Mr Singhal as the TTD executive officer as promised by him in the past.
When Mr Lokesh came to know about the North Indian IAS officers' proposal, he got upset since he had made a promise to Mr Jawahar Reddy.
Meanwhile, serving and retired Telugu IAS officers urged Mr Naidu not to appoint a North Indian IAS officer as the TTD EO but opt for a Telugu IAS officer.
They informed the CM since the day the TTD was set up in 1933 by the British government, no North Indian IAS officer has held the post till date.
Meanwhile, North Indian IAS officers are continuing with their demand of appointing Mr Singhal as the TTD executive officer.
This has resulted in the state government not going ahead with the expected reshuffle of IAS officers. This is expected to be kept pending till the appointment to the TTD post is made.