Info system turns directionless

ABSENCE OF strategy resulted in the mishandling of the Tirumala controversy.

During the early days of the TD government, Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s communication wing and the information and public relations (I&PR) department used to take care of all activities and the system worked in perfect cohesion.

With the addition of two agencies, Hubilo and Group M, and the monitoring by the Real Time Governance (RTG) wing, the information system has become directionless. For example, the absence of strategy resulted in the mishandling of the Tirumala controversy. The government is now trying to address the issue after much irreparable damage. In fact, AP is the only state having such huge man power and mechanism in the information arena, across the country.

The office of the adviser (communications) played a vital role in getting the stories of Mr Naidu’s proinvestment policies published in international dailies.

Despite having a meagre strength of media professionals, the communications wing monitored by adviser Parakala Prabhakar was delivering information in a professional way, having direct access with the mainstream media.

Hubilo and Group M are accountable to the RTG chief and Mr Naidu respectively, and they are independent of other government’s agencies.

Both agencies couldn’t act as opinion leaders on behalf of the government, in communicating the government’s stand on the Tirumala controversy.

—DC Mr Reddy Subrahmanyam hurling water bottles at YSRC MLA Chirla Jaggireddy on Thursday.